Get to know the plants

Aloe arborescens

krantz aloe · kransaalwyn (Afr.)

Fast, easy, multi-headed aloe with orange (sometimes yellow or bicoloured) winter flower spikes; makes a dense, spiny hedge.

Aloe brevifolia

Short-leaved Aloe · Duine-aalwyn (Afr.)

Endemic to the Western Cape (Overberg and southern Cape).

Aloe striata

coral aloe · blouaalwyn (Afr.)

Stemless aloe with smooth, toothless blue-green leaves and coral-red winter flowers; very hardy.

Amaryllis belladonna

belladonna lily, March lily · Maartblom, Maartlelie (Afr.)

Cape bulb whose bare stems of scented pink or white trumpets appear in late summer, before the leaves.

Anisodontea scabrosa

rough-leaf African mallow, sand rose · sandroos, pienk-kiesieblaar (Afr.)

Cheerful pink-flowered mallow shrub that blooms almost all year; tough on the coast and frost-hardy.

Asparagus densiflorus

asparagus fern, emerald fern · smaragsiervaring (Afr.)

Versatile evergreen asparagus 'fern' for groundcover or containers, in sun or light shade.

Athanasia trifurcata

trifid-leaf athanasia, coulter bush · kouterbos, klaaslouwbos (Afr.)

Fast, aromatic grey shrub with three-forked leaves (just what trifurcata means) and flat yellow flower heads in early summer.

Bolboschoenus maritimus

formerly Scirpus maritimus

alkali bullrush · snygras, snyruigte (Afr.)

Quick-growing sedge with golden-brown spikelets; copes with brackish and alkaline water (maritimus means "of the seaside").

Buddleja saligna

false olive · witolien (Afr.)

Fast, evergreen small tree with honey-scented cream flowers; a quick screen, hedge or pioneer tree.

Carex clavata

formerly Schoenoxiphium ecklonii

Endemic to South Africa: Eastern and Western Cape.

Carissa bispinosa

forest num-num · bosnoemnoem (Afr.)

Thorny evergreen num-num with glossy leaves, scented white starry flowers and red fruit; good barrier hedge.

Carpobrotus acinaciformis

sour fig, Hottentot fig · elandsvy, goenavy (Afr.)

Vigorous sour fig of Western Cape dunes: dense succulent mats with large magenta-purple flowers in spring.

Carpobrotus deliciosus

delicious sour fig, sweet sour fig · suurvy, perdevy (Afr.)

Spreading sour fig with purple-pink (sometimes white) flowers in late winter and spring, and tasty edible fruit (deliciosus says it all).

Carpobrotus edulis

sour fig, Cape fig · ghaukum, ghoenavy (Afr.)

The common sour fig: an easy, fire-resistant succulent groundcover with big yellow flowers that age to pink.

Carpobrotus muirii

Albertinia sour fig, dwarf sour fig · Albertinia-suurvy, kleinsuurvy (Afr.)

Compact sour fig from the Albertinia sand fynbos: a mat-forming succulent with purplish-pink flowers.

Carpobrotus quadrifidus

West Coast sour fig, eland sour fig · Weskus suurvy, elandsvy (Afr.)

West Coast sour fig with the largest flowers in the genus – up to 140 mm across.

Cenchrus caudatus

formerly Pennisetum macrourum, Cenchrus macrourus

African Feather Grass · Beddinggras, Jaagbesem (Afr.)

Widespread, also beyond South Africa; recorded in every province except the Free State.

Chasmanthe aethiopica

small chasmanthe, small cobra lily · suurkanolpypie, klein piempiempie (Afr.)

One of the first Cape bulbs to bloom: arching spikes of orange tubular flowers in autumn and early winter.

Chasmanthe floribunda

cobra lily, chasmanthe · kapelpypie (Afr.)

Vigorous cobra lily with bold spikes of bright orange flowers; striking in large groups.

Chasmanthe floribunda 'Duckittii'

formerly Chasmanthe floribunda var. duckittii

yellow cobra lily, yellow chasmanthe · geelpiempiempie, geelkapelpypie (Afr.)

Yellow-flowered form of the cobra lily: sword-shaped leaves and canary-yellow tubular flowers in late winter and early spring.

Chlorophytum saundersiae

formerly Anthericum saundersiae

weeping anthericum · watergras (Afr.)

Tough, grass-like clumping perennial with white starry flowers; a landscaper's favourite.

Cissampelos capensis

Cape moonseed vine · dawidjies, davidjes (Afr.)

Slow, tough scrambling shrublet with blue-green leaves; a long-used medicinal plant for dry, windy spots.

Cliffortia ferruginea

glossy cliffortia · glastee, pypsteelbos (Afr.)

Easy, glossy green groundcover that carpets banks and trails over walls.

Coleus neochilus

formerly Plectranthus neochilus

smelly coleus, blue coleus · rotstuinsalie (Afr.)

Aromatic, succulent groundcover with blue-purple flower spikes; thrives in hot, dry sites and in light shade.

Cotyledon orbiculata

pig's ears, cotyledon · plakkie, platjies (Afr.)

Fast, easy succulent shrublet with thick grey or green leaves and hanging orange-red bells.

Crassula multicava

fairy crassula, pitted crassula · feetjie crassula, skaduplakkie (Afr.)

Fast, even, evergreen succulent groundcover for shade, with sprays of small pink-white flowers.

Crinum moorei

Natal lily, Moore's crinum · boslelie, Natallelie (Afr.)

Forest lily with tall stems of large white to pink trumpets in summer; needs dappled shade.

Cyperus longus

Sweet Cyperus · Dooiwortel, Waterbiesie (Afr.)

Widespread, also beyond South Africa; recorded in all nine provinces.

Cyperus papyrus

papyrus · papirus (Afr.)

The giant papyrus sedge: tall green stems topped with feather-duster heads, for large water bodies.

Cyperus prolifer

miniature papyrus

Miniature papyrus: a medium-sized sedge with round, fluffy heads for pond edges.

Cyperus textilis

mat sedge, umbrella sedge · matjiesgoed, kooigoed (Afr.)

Tall, clump-forming umbrella sedge for pond banks, wet ground and reed-bed water cleaning.

Cyperus thunbergii

formerly Mariscus thunbergii

Giant Sedge

Endemic to South Africa: Eastern and Western Cape.

Dietes bicolor

yellow wild iris, peacock flower · uintjie, poublom (Afr.)

Clumping yellow wild iris that flowers for months and tolerates poor soil, drought and wet spots.

Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustifolia

formerly Dodonaea angustifolia

sand olive · sandolien, ysterbos (Afr.)

Tough, wind- and drought-resistant sand olive: a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree for hedges and screens.

Dovyalis afra

formerly Dovyalis caffra

Kei-apple · Kei-appel (Afr.)

Evergreen, spiny Kei-apple: a hedge or small tree with edible apricot-coloured fruit.

Drimiopsis maculata

Little white soldiers

Eragrostis curvula

African Love Grass, Boer Love Grass · Bergsoetgras, Berg-Soetgras (Afr.)

Widespread, also beyond South Africa; recorded in all nine provinces.

Eriocephalus africanus

wild rosemary · wilderoosmaryn, kapokbos (Afr.)

Silvery, aromatic Cape shrub that is smothered in small white flowers and fluffy seed heads (Eriocephalus means "woolly head") in winter.

Falkia repens

white carpet, African morning glory · oortjies (Afr.)

Fast, low creeping groundcover (repens means "creeping") with small rounded leaves and white to pink trumpet flowers in spring.

Felicia amelloides

blue felicia bush, shrubby felicia · bloumagriet, blou-astertjie (Afr.)

Sky-blue daisies with yellow centres on long stems; an easy, long-flowering shrublet.

Felicia filifolia

Fine-leaved Felicia · Bakbos, Bergdraaibos (Afr.)

Ficinia nigrescens

Black Clubrush · Swartkopbiesie (Afr.)

Also occurs beyond South Africa; recorded in the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape.

Ficinia nodosa

formerly Scirpoides nodosus

Knobby Clubrush · Vleibiesie (Afr.)

Also occurs beyond South Africa; recorded in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and Western Cape.

Freylinia lanceolata

honey bell-bush, honeybells · heuningklokkiesbos (Afr.)

Willowy shrub with honey-scented golden bells over a long season; a magnet for pollinators, best near water.

Geranium incanum

Carpet Geranium · Horlosies, Vrouetee (Afr.)

Spreading carpet geranium with fine grey-green leaves (incanum means "hoary grey") and pink to mauve flowers.

Gomphostigma virgatum

river star, otter bush

Evergreen river shrub with arching stems and scented white starry flowers in midsummer.

Helichrysum teretifolium

Needle Everlasting

Endemic to South Africa (Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape), in fynbos, thicket, grassland and the coastal belt.

Hermannia saccifera

cumin hermannia · komynbossie (Afr.)

Compact, low sprawling shrublet covered in hanging yellow bells in spring.

Hyparrhenia hirta

common thatching grass · dektamboekiegras (Afr.)

Wiry, tufted thatching grass with hairy white flower heads (hirta means "hairy"); tough on rocky and poor ground.

Hypoestes aristata

ribbon bush · seeroogblommetjie (Afr.)

Easy, fast shrub with lilac-pink flowers through the cooler months; good for shade.

Isolepis prolifera

Budding Club-Rush · Vleigras (Afr.)

Also occurs beyond South Africa; recorded in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape.

Juncus acutus

spiny rush

Juncus capensis

Cape Rush

Endemic to South Africa: Eastern, Northern and Western Cape.

Juncus effusus

Also occurs beyond South Africa; recorded in every province except the Northern Cape.

Juncus kraussii

dune slack rush, matting rush

Tough, colony-forming rush of salt marshes and estuaries; excellent for erosion control in wetlands.

Kniphofia uvaria

Fire Lily, Red-hot Poker · Ghoesghoeroe, Rooisoldate (Afr.)

Endemic to South Africa: Eastern, Northern and Western Cape.

Leucospermum bolusii

Gordon's Bay pincushion · witluisiesbos (Afr.)

A rare pincushion that breaks the rules: instead of bright orange or yellow, its small heads are cream-white, and they carry a sweet perfume that hangs in the air on still evenings. Easy for a protea, and lovely in a vase.

Lobelia anceps

angled lobelia, swamp lobelia

Sprawling swamp lobelia with small blue, mauve or white flowers – a groundcover for wet and boggy places.

Melinis repens

Natal red top · bergrooigras (Afr.)

Hardy, low-maintenance tufted grass with rosy-red feathery heads in spring and summer.

Mentha longifolia

wild mint · kruisement, balderjan (Afr.)

Strongly scented wild mint for damp ground, used for centuries in cooking and medicine.

Mesembryanthemum cordifolium

formerly Aptenia cordifolia

heart-leaf vygie, heart-leaf ice-plant · rooibrakvygie, brakvygie (Afr.)

Fast, glossy heart-leaf vygie with small magenta flowers; a tough groundcover for coast and banks.

Ornithogalum thyrsoides

chincherinchee, wonder-flower · tjienkerientjee, tjienk (Afr.)

The chincherinchee: a winter-growing bulb with dense heads of long-lasting white flowers, famous as a cut flower.

Orphium frutescens

sea-rose, sticky flower · teringbos (Afr.)

Bushy coastal perennial with glossy pink star flowers in midsummer, when most of the veld is dormant.

Oscularia deltoides

dassievygie, sandsteenvygie (Afr.)

Easy, waterwise succulent groundcover with toothed grey leaves, red stems and scented pink flowers.

Osteospermum incanum

formerly Chrysanthemoides incana

Grey Bietou

Pelargonium capitatum

rose-scented pelargonium, coast pelargonium · kusmalva (Afr.)

Low, spreading rose-scented pelargonium of coastal dunes; grown commercially for its oil.

Pelargonium cucullatum

hooded-leaf pelargonium, herba althaea · wildemalva (Afr.)

Tall, tough coastal pelargonium with masses of pink-purple flowers; an ancestor of many garden hybrids.

Phragmites australis

common reed · fluitjiesriet (Afr.)

The common reed: a tall, fast-spreading wetland grass with soft, silky flower plumes.

Phylica ericoides

heath phylica, ericoid phylica · hardebos (Afr.)

Compact, dark green fynbos shrub covered in small white flower heads in autumn and winter; also a good cut flower.

Plecostachys serpyllifolia

cobwebbush · vaaltee, kooigoed (Afr.)

Easy, woolly grey perennial whose tangled stems form a soft mound or groundcover.

Plumbago auriculata

Cape leadwort, plumbago · blousyselbos (Afr.)

Reliable, fast scrambling shrub with sky-blue flowers for much of the year; a classic hedge plant.

Portulacaria afra

porkbush, elephant's food · spekboom, olifantskos (Afr.)

Spekboom: a tough evergreen succulent shrub with small round leaves on red stems; screens, hedges and bonsai.

Salvia africana

formerly Salvia africana-caerulea

blue African sage, blue sage · blousalie, bloublomsalie (Afr.)

Soft, grey, aromatic fynbos sage with blue-mauve flowers from winter to summer; a waterwise herb-garden shrub. AVNPlants grows the cultivar 'Sunset'.

Salvia aurea

formerly Salvia africana-lutea

golden sage, beach sage · bruinsalie, strandsalie (Afr.)

Aromatic, wind- and drought-tolerant coastal shrub with yellow-to-rusty-brown flowers loved by sunbirds.

Salvia chamelaeagnea

rough blue sage · bloublomsalie (Afr.)

Upright, dense sage with bright blue (sometimes white) flowers through the hot months.

Salvia dolomitica

dolomite sage, pilgrim's rest pink sage · dolomietsalie (Afr.)

Neat, hardy, frost-tolerant sage with aromatic leaves and a long spring–summer show of pinkish-lilac flowers.

Salvia lanceolata

rusty sage, lance-leaf sage · rooisalie (Afr.)

Easy, waterwise grey-green sage with rusty-rose flowers for most of the year.

Samolus porosus

water-pimpernel

Adaptable tufted perennial for wet ground, even brackish estuary edges, with small white to pale pink flowers.

Scabiosa incisa

coast scabious · koringblommetjie (Afr.)

Fast, sprawling perennial with large mauve or white pincushion-like flower heads in spring and early summer.

Schoenoplectus scirpoides

Soft Clubrush · Papgras, Steekbiesie (Afr.)

Also occurs beyond South Africa; recorded in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Northern Cape and Western Cape.

Searsia angustifolia

formerly Rhus angustifolia

Willow Karee · Wilgerkorentebos (Afr.)

Endemic to the Western and Northern Cape, in fynbos.

Searsia crenata

formerly Rhus crenata

dune crow-berry · duinekraaibessie (Afr.)

Tough, spineless dune shrub for coastal windbreaks and sand-binding; drought tolerant.

Selago corymbosa

bitter bush, poverty bush · bitterblombos, bitterblombossie (Afr.)

Dainty, fine-leaved shrublet with flat heads of small white flowers (corymbosa refers to these flat-topped clusters) from summer into winter.

Stachys aethiopica

African stachys, wild sage · katbossie, katpisbossie (Afr.)

Vigorous, aromatic groundcover with small white, pink or mauve flowers in spring; for sun or shade.

Tecomaria capensis

formerly Tecoma capensis

Cape honeysuckle, tecomaria · Kaapse kanferfoelie, trompetters (Afr.)

Fast, scrambling Cape honeysuckle with orange (also yellow or red) tubular flowers; screens and hedges.

Tulbaghia capensis

Cape Garlic

Tulbaghia violacea

wild garlic, society garlic · wildeknoffel, wildeknoflok (Afr.)

Tough, drought-tolerant clumping bulb with mauve flower heads (violacea means "violet") through summer; garlic-scented leaves.

Typha capensis

bulrush · papkuil, matjiesriet (Afr.)

The Cape bulrush (capensis means "from the Cape"): a fast-spreading marsh plant with brown 'cigar' flower spikes for dams and wetlands.

Watsonia borbonica

pink watsonia · suurkanol, kanolpypie (Afr.)

Tall winter-growing watsonia with spikes of rose-pink trumpets for 4–5 weeks in late spring.

Watsonia marginata

broad-leaf watsonia · breëblaar-kanolpypie, rooikanolpypie (Afr.)

Watsonia with blue-green, yellow-edged leaves (marginata means "edged") and tall spikes of pink or white cup-like flowers in spring.

Watsonia meriana

Bulbil Bugle-lily · Kanolpypie, Lakpypie (Afr.)

Zantedeschia aethiopica

white arum lily, common arum lily · wit varkoor (Afr.)

The white arum lily: a rewarding, old-fashioned plant for wet ground and pond edges.