Plants of the Week

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E.g., 22/12/2024
E.g., 22/12/2024

Indigofera flabellata

Indigofera flabellata (Adriaan Grobler)
Common names: fan-leaf indigofera
Family: Fabaceae

The Fynbos Biome is the home of the characteristic dwarf shrub, Indigofera flabellata, with irregular branches and beautiful rose-purple flowers that attract...

03 / 10 / 2016 | Tandiwe Nkonki | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Delosperma abbottii

Delosperma abbottii
Common names: Pondoland cliff-delosperma (Eng.); Pondokransvygie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

A cliff-dwelling, mat-forming, mesemb with yellow to magenta flowers in summer, known only from sandstone cliffs in the Pondoland region, in the Eastern...

03 / 10 / 2016 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Pelargonium articulatum

Pelargonium articulatum, cream or white flowers in early summer
Common names: cliff pelargonium (Eng.); kransmalva (Afr.)
Family: Geraniaceae

Pelargonium articulatum is seldom noticed except when it is in flower, then it is one of the showiest of pelargoniums....

26 / 09 / 2016 | Lize Wolfaardt | Karoo Desert NBG
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Pelargonium lobatum

Pelargonium lobatum
Common names: vine-leaved pelargonium (Eng.); aandblom, aandkaneelbol, kaneelbol, nachtbloem (Afr.)
Family: Geraniaceae

This attractive, hardy, geophytic pelargonium is ideally suited for sandy fynbos gardens, rockeries or pots....

26 / 09 / 2016 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Argyrolobium tomentosum

Argyrolobium tomentosum
Common names: velvety yellow bush pea (Eng.); umadlozana, umlomomnandi (isiZulu)
Family: Fabaceae

A scrambling, evergreen shrub with yellow flowers in spring and summer; it is a pretty garden plant and is one of South Africa’s magical medicinal...

19 / 09 / 2016 | Bulannga Mufhati | Lowveld NBG
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Combretum vendae

Combretum vendae var. glabratum  (Wynand Uys, iSpot)
Common names: Venda bushwillow (Eng.); vendaboswilg (Afr.); gopo-gopo, gopokopo-bani (Venda)
Family: Combretaceae

...

19 / 09 / 2016 | Nomama Mei | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Mimetes capitulatus

Mimetes capitulatus (Robbie Thomas)
Common names: conical pagoda (Eng.); skraalstompie (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

This striking plant is a lesser-known gem, whose brightly coloured, red and orange flowerheads, appear in spring time, attracting the sunbirds. Populations...

12 / 09 / 2016 | Karen Wall | Harold Porter NBG
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Salvia scabra

Salvia scabra
Common names: coast blue sage (Eng.); kuskruipsalie (Afr.); usikiki (isiXhosa)
Family: Lamiaceae

Salvia scabra is a dainty sage which is adorned with mauve flowers between spring and autumn, with its peak flowering in summer. Being water-wise and its...

12 / 09 / 2016 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Kalanchoe sexangularis

Kalanchoe sexangularis
Common names: bushveld kalanchoe, red-leaved kalanchoe (Eng.); bosveldplakkie, rooiblaarplakkie (Afr.)
Family: Crassulaceae

Kalanchoe sexangularis is a hardy and drought-resistant succulent, with decorative red foliage that’s a must-have for the rockery, garden or patio,...

05 / 09 / 2016 | Jermaine Christoffels | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Asparagus asparagoides

Asparagus asparagoides
Common names: Cape smilax, African asparagus smilax, baby smilax, bridal creeper, bridal veil creeper (Eng.); breȅblaarklimop, krulkransie, gnarboola, narbass (Afr
Family: Asparagaceae

A scrambling shrub with lovely glossy foliage, for shade or sun, in the garden or indoors, and excellent for flower arrangements, but take note that outside...

04 / 09 / 2016 | Samuel Lekhetho | Free State NBG
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Ajuga ophrydis

Ajuga ophrydis
Common names: bugle plant (Eng.); moonyane, se-nyarela (S. Sotho)
Family: Lamiaceae

A perennial herb that can grow 60–250 mm high, with beautiful mauve, white or blue flowers. It is usually distributed in grassland areas and...

29 / 08 / 2016 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Protea subvestita

Protea subvestita
Common names: waterlily sugarbush (Eng.); lippeblomsuikerbos (Afr); igwanishe, isiqane (isiXhosa); isiqalaba (isiZulu)
Family: Proteaceae

This is a protea from the summer rainfall region that makes a wonderful large shrub or small tree in the garden; it produces its flowerheads in summer...

29 / 08 / 2016 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Anchusa capensis

Anchusa capensis
Common names: Cape-forget-me-not, anchusa (Eng.); vergeetmynietjie, ystergras, koringblom, ossetongblaar (Afr.); petlekheme (Sesotho)
Family: Boraginaceae

The Cape-forget-me-not is easy to find flowering in the fields of daisies throughout Namaqualand in the spring, and, although it may be a bit weedy, its...

22 / 08 / 2016 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Gladiolus loteniensis

Gladiolus loteniensis (Ansell Matcher)
Common names: Loteni gladiolus
Family: Iridaceae

The Critically Rare Gladiolus loteniensis blossoms into a delicate plant, with small mauve flowers....

15 / 08 / 2016 | Kaveesha Naicker | CREW
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Othonna arbuscula

Othonna arbuscula
Common names: bonsai othonna (Eng.); knolharpuis, knolrepuis,nu-nu, traap (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

A small succulent shrub from the arid areas of southern Africa, which has the appearance of a small tree or bonsai....

15 / 08 / 2016 | Ricardo Riddles | Karoo Desert NBG
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Stoeberia giftbergensis

Stoeberia giftbergensis
Common names: Gifberg tree-mesemb (Eng.); Gifberg-boomvygie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

A large, shrubby, leaf succulent with white to pink flowers in spring; it is a rare endemic of the Gifberg in the Western Cape....

15 / 08 / 2016 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Searsia natalensis

Searsia natalensis (Geoff Nicholls)
Common names: dune karee, Natal karee, northern dune currant, northern dune currant-rhus (Eng.); duinekaree, natalkaree, noordelike duinekaree (Afr.); umgwele, ingw
Family: Anacardiaceae

An attractive hedge or garden tree that is also used medicinally for various ailments. It can be easily propagated from seed....

08 / 08 / 2016 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Euchaetis meridionalis

Euchaetis meridionalis
Common names: Agulhas bearded-buchu
Family: Rutaceae

This is an amazingly tough and hardy plant, a diehard that can last for years, and a very useful filling-type of shrub for the coastal fynbos garden....

08 / 08 / 2016 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aloidendron

Forest of Aloidendron dichotomum near Nieuwoudtville
Common names: tree aloes (Eng.); boomaalwyne (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Tree aloes, with their striking, bold and often symmetrical architecture and drought tolerance, are sought after by gardeners and make perfect focus plants...

01 / 08 / 2016 | Ronell R. Klopper | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Crossyne guttata

Crossyne guttata (Hedi Stummer)
Common names: parasol lily, April fool lily (Eng.); sambreelblom (Afr.)
Family: Amaryllidaceae

This is a popular winter growing bulb, chosen mostly for its broad leaves that are fringed with brown hair-like bristles....

01 / 08 / 2016 | Sisanda Alakhe Velembo-Mhlauli | Kirstenbosch NBG
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