Plants of the Week

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E.g., 02/12/2024
E.g., 02/12/2024

Brachystelma barberae

Brachystelma barberae
Common names: platvoetaasblom (Afr.)
Family: Apocynaceae

Brachystelma barberae is without doubt the most spectacular species in the genus. It is probably the best known cultivated caudiciform asclepiad. If the...

08 / 09 / 2008 | Stoffel Petrus Pieter Bester | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Salvia lanceolata

Image of Salvia lanceolata flowers
Common names: rusty sage, lance-leaf sage (Eng.); rooisalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

A lovely grey-green aromatic shrub with rusty red flowers for most of the year; rewardingly easy to grow and water-wise....

01 / 09 / 2008 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ehrharta calycina

Ehrharta calycina
Common names: common ehrharta, common veld grass (Eng.); gewone ehrharta, rooigras, polgras (Afr.)
Family: Poaceae

Ehrharta calycina is usually perennial with strongly geniculate culms (stems), red-flowers and a creeping, branched rhizome....

01 / 09 / 2008 | Aluoneswi Caroline Mashau | Pretoria NBG
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Pelargonium radens

Pelargonium radens flowers
Common names: rasp-leaved, multifid-leaved pelargonium
Family: Geraniaceae

This showy, scented pelargonium will bring delight to any fragrant garden....

25 / 08 / 2008 | Trevor Adams | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Croton sylvaticus

Croton sylvaticus tree. Photo G. Nichols
Common names: forest fever-berry, woodland croton (Eng.); boskoorsbessie (Afr.), umFeze, uMagwaqane (Xhosa); umHloshazane, uGebeleweni, umZilanyoni, inDumbahlozi (Z
Family: Euphorbiaceae

Croton sylvaticus is a beautiful, spreading, leafy tree, up to 21 m, high sometimes less, usually with a tall, straight trunk up to 1 m in diameter....

25 / 08 / 2008 | Alec Naidoo | Pretoria NBG
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Searsia magalismontana subsp. magalismontana

S. magalismontana subsp. magalismontana bush Photo: Linette Ferreira
Common names: bergtaaibos (Afr.)
Family: Anacardiaceae

Nowadays, when small gardens are the order of the day, this lovely little multistemmed shrub has been overlooked as a potential form plant for that special...

18 / 08 / 2008 | K Behr | Pretoria NBG
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Acmadenia trigona

Acmadenia trigona
Common names: Langeberg porcelain flower (Eng.); Langeberg-boegoe (Afr.)
Family: Rutaceae

Acmadenia trigona, from the winter rainfall region, forms an upright shrub with spreading branches. It grows 0.3-0.7 m high. It is a single stem at the...

18 / 08 / 2008 | Norma Lucas | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucadendron sessile

Female Leucadendron sessile bush
Common names: sun conebush, western sunbush (Eng.)
Family: Proteaceae

Leucadendron sessile is an easy-to-grow fynbos shrub that turns bright yellow during winter and spring. Leucadendrons are often overlooked, in favour...

11 / 08 / 2008 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Drosanthemum bicolor

Drosanthemum bicolor blooms
Common names: tweekleurporseleinbos (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

...

11 / 08 / 2008 | Shireen Harris | Karoo Desert NBG
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Didymaotus lapidiformis

Image of D. lapidiformis in habitat
Common names: stone plant (Eng.); beeskloutjie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

 Didymaotus lapidiformis is a fascinating chunky succulent that looks like a lithops on steroids! It grows in the arid winter rainfall regions of...

04 / 08 / 2008 | Ian Oliver | Karoo Desert NBG
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Agathosma capensis

Image of Agathosma capensis
Common names: spicy buchu (Eng.); anysboegoe, steenbokboegoe (Afr.)
Family: Rutaceae

Agathosma capensis is a variable shrub with either hairy or hairless leaves. Flower colour ranges from mauve, pink to white or a bluish purple. Crushed...

04 / 08 / 2008 | Norma Lucas | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ursinia chrysanthemoides var. geyeri

Ursinia chrysanthemoides var. geyeri in bloom
Common names: coral ursinia, crimson ursinia
Family: Asteraceae

Once thought to be extinct, Ursinia chrysanthemoides var. geyeri, the crimson-flowered herbaceous daisy has found its way back into cultivation....

28 / 07 / 2008 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aloe pictifolia

Aloe pictifolia growing at Kirstenbosch NBG
Common names: Kouga -aalwyn (Afr.), Kouga aloe (Eng.).
Family: Asphodelaceae

An attractive small aloe with greyish-green leaves ornamented with many white spots. It is easily grown and popular in cultivation....

28 / 07 / 2008 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Phymaspermum acerosum

Image of P. acerosum in habitat
Common names: geelblombos (Afr.), isibhaha-segceke, umhlonishwa (Zulu)
Family: Asteraceae

The geelblombos will brighten up any dull area in the garden during the autumn months....

21 / 07 / 2008 | Karen Wall | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Lamiaceae

Mentha longifolia.  Photo G. Nichols
Common names: mint or sage family
Family: Lamiaceae

The Lamiaceae family is characterised by square stems, aromatic leaves (gland-dotted) and zygomorphic (irregular) flowers with the corolla usually 2-lipped....

21 / 07 / 2008 | Elizabeth Retief | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Pseudoscolopia polyantha

Pseudoscolopia polyantha.  Image A E van Wyk
Common names: false red pear ( Eng. ); valsrooipeer (Afr
Family: Salicaceae

Pseudoscolopia polyantha is a rare, near-threatened and little known tree restricted to a threatened habitat-forest margins....

14 / 07 / 2008 | Suvarna Parbhoo | CREW
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Erica blenna var. grandiflora

Image of E. blenna var. grandiflora Photo: Plantweb
Common names: lantern heath, Riversdale heath (Eng.); belletjieheide (Afr.)
Family: Ericaceae

Erica blenna var. grandiflora is unusual in flower shape and colour and these attributes contribute to making South African ericas uniquely...

14 / 07 / 2008 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Trianoptiles

Trianoptiles solitaria leaves.  Photo Dr M. Muasya
Common names: sedges (Eng.); biesies (Afr.)
Family: Cyperaceae

Trianoptiles is a tiny genus of three species, two of which are highly threatened in their natural habitat. Despite being on the brink of extinction...

07 / 07 / 2008 | Caitlin Von Witt | CREW
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Euryops abrotanifolius

Image of Euryops abrotanifolius
Common names: lace-leaf euryops, mountain resin bush (Eng.); bergharpuisbos, geelmagriet (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

Euryops abrotanifolius is an easy-to-grow fynbos shrub with bright yellow daisies during winter and spring that will cheer up the winter garden....

07 / 07 / 2008 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aloe variegata

This plant is now called Gonialoe variegata....

30 / 06 / 2008 | | Kirstenbosch NBG
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