Plants of the Week

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E.g., 05/12/2024

Othonna herrei

Othonna herrei in cultivation at the Karoo Desert NBG.
Common names: Richtersveld othonna
Family: Asteraceae

This bonsai-like Othonna is unique and certainly the most remarkable species in the genus....

03 / 04 / 2017 | Carole Sutty | Karoo Desert NBG
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Chaenostoma hispidum

Chaenostoma hispidum
Common names: bristly skunkbush (Eng.); stinkbossie (Afr.)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

A small, aromatic, perennial shrublet with attractive white, pink to mauve star-shaped flowers in summer, good for garden borders....

03 / 04 / 2017 | Mpendulo Gabayi | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ledebouria mokobulanensis

Ledebouria mokobulanensis
Common names: Mokobulan African hyacinth
Family: Hyacinthaceae

An enigmatic, rare and range-restricted species from the high-altitude grasslands, on the crests of the Mpumalanga Drakensberg, in Mpumalanga Province,...

31 / 03 / 2017 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Ledebouria remifolia

Ledebouria remifolia
Common names: butterspoon African hyacinth
Family: Hyacinthaceae

A unique, dwarf, bulbous plant which produces spoon-like leaves on a long slender stalk. This small enigmatic species makes a curious container subject...

31 / 03 / 2017 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Ledebouria parvifolia

Ledebouria parvifolia
Common names: elusive African hyacinth
Family: Hyacinthaceae

A very rare and elusive species seldom seen in its natural habitat due to its small size and remote location in the Mpumalanga Drakensberg, Mpumalanga,...

31 / 03 / 2017 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Macaranga capensis

Macaranga capensis in flower (Geoff Nichols).
Common names: river macaranga, false-poplar, spiny macaranga, wild-poplar (Eng.); riviermakaranga, valspopulier, wildepopulier (Afr.); umbengele, umphumelezi, umphu
Family: Euphorbiaceae

A perfect feature plant for a tropical garden, Macaranga capensis is also used medicinally for various ailments, and it attracts bees and birds to the...

27 / 03 / 2017 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Pyrrosia schimperiana

Pyrrosia schimperiana growing on a cliff at Mariepskop, Blyde River Canyon.
Common names: canyon fern (Eng.); afgrondvaring (Afr.)
Family: Polypodiaceae

A rare fern, only known from the Blyde River Canyon in the Mpumalanga Province, confined to sheer cliffs. The plant grows in small, dense clusters, with...

27 / 03 / 2017 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea nana

Protea nana (Marian Oliver)
Common names: mountain rose, mountain-rose sugarbush (Eng.); bergroos, warebergroos, skaamblom, skaamroos, skaamrosie (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

A delightful shrub, with soft needle-shaped leaves that shimmer in the wind, while its cup-shaped, crimson flower heads, shyly nod. ...

20 / 03 / 2017 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Barleria virgula

Barleria virgula
Common names: sand bush violet (Eng.); sandbosviooltjie (Afr.)
Family: Acanthaceae

‘The drier I get, the better I flower!’...

13 / 03 / 2017 | Willem Froneman | Lowveld NBG
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Syncolostemon canescens

Syncolostemon canescens
Common names: coconut-scented sagebush, grey-haired sagebush
Family: Lamiaceae

A small, aromatic perennial, with dainty, purplish pink, summer flowers and leaves that have a strong and unusual fruity, coconutty scent; a ‘must-have’...

13 / 03 / 2017 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ledebouria concolor

Ledebouria concolor
Common names: Karoo African hyacinth
Family: Hyacinthaceae

A large and handsome, African hyacinth, with bright green leaves and stout semi-erect, dense flower spikes, that makes a fine pot plant. This attractive...

06 / 03 / 2017 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Ledebouria asperifolia

Ledebouria asperifolia, Buffelskloof Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga.
Common names: rough-leaved African hyacinth
Family: Hyacinthaceae

Although this species is seldom seen in cultivation, there are some very attractive forms which have beautiful markings on the leaves. It occurs over a...

06 / 03 / 2017 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis

Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis (Tony Rebelo, iSpot)
Common names: beach morning glory, goat’s foot (Eng.); strandpatat (Afr.)
Family: Convolvulaceae

Beach morning glory is a perennial, trailing vine that forms dense mats on beaches and sand dunes. Its bright green, glossy leaves and showy pink flowers,...

06 / 03 / 2017 | Lerato Hoveka | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Sansevieria hallii

Sansevieria hallii
Common names: sickle-leaf mother-in-law’s-tongue (Eng.); sekelblaar-skoonma-se-tong (Afr.)
Family: Ruscaceae

Sansevieria hallii represents a rare succulent, with mottled, sickle-shaped leaves and beautiful white flowers. It is confined to the northeastern parts...

06 / 03 / 2017 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Tagetes minuta

Tagetes minor, inflorescence
Common names: khaki bush, khaki weed, African marigold (Eng.); kakiebos, khakibos, langkakiebos, stinkbos, stinkkhakibos, transvaalse kakiebos (Afr.); mbanje (isiNd
Family: Asteraceae

Khaki bush planted around your house will provide you with a very good early-warning security system. The strong odor of the bush when crushed will immediately...

27 / 02 / 2017 | Marinda Koekemoer | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Dietes flavida

Dietes flavida (John Manning)
Common names: wood iris, wild iris (Eng.)
Family: Iridaceae

An irid with attractive leaves that is a rewarding garden plant. It has fans of long, narrow and very erect, bluish-green leaves and occasional flowers...

27 / 02 / 2017 | Nomama Mei | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Syncolostemon macranthus

Syncolostemon macranthus
Common names: long-flowered sagebush, long-flowered pink plume
Family: Lamiaceae

An attractive, shrubby perennial, with bright pink to mauve flowers, in summer....

20 / 02 / 2017 | Mpendulo Gabayi | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ledebouria luteola

Ledebouria luteola
Common names: highveld African hyacinth
Family: Hyacinthaceae

Unusual in cultivation, this bulbous plant, with attractively spotted leaves, can make an interesting collector’s item or curiosity. The species...

20 / 02 / 2017 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Euphorbia globosa

Euphorbia globosa
Common names: globose euphorbia, globose spurge (Eng.); eierpol, knopmelkbol, langbeentjie (Afr.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

The Eastern Cape Province is home to the charming and spineless Euphorbia globosa. This dwarf succulent, from a near distance, appears as an arrangement...

13 / 02 / 2017 | Tandiwe Nkonki | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Protea odorata

Protea odorata
Common names: Swartland sugarbush
Family: Proteaceae

A small, champion shrub that produces very pleasant pink flower heads, pointing upwards or sideway of the branches, that have a slight sweet fragrance,...

13 / 02 / 2017 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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