PlantZAfrica: South African Plants
South Africa's national biodiversity institute publishes two Plant of the Week profiles every week, from living-stone succulents to proteas and grasses.
What it is
PlantZAfrica is the South African National Biodiversity Institute's website on the plants of southern Africa. It launched in 2000, and its backbone is Plant of the Week: two new profiles every week, now more than 1,850 in total. Everything is in English, with local common names such as Afrikaans ones listed too.
Why we picked it
Southern Africa is one of the most plant-rich places on Earth, and many houseplants and succulents people grow worldwide originally come from there. The profiles are written by SANBI horticulturists and scientists at places like Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and the National Herbarium in Pretoria. They read like field notes rather than database entries: how a plant lives in the wild, how to grow it and why it may be in trouble.
A recent example from September is the red woolly button, a tiny Conophytum whose hairs trap fog and dew, and whose wild populations suffer from collectors.
Where to start
- Read the two current Plants of the Week on the homepage.
- Browse Plants of the Week alphabetically and look up something familiar, like an aloe, a pelargonium or a strelitzia.
- Use the Advanced Search to find plants that suit your garden or a specific purpose.
- Visit Vegetation of South Africa for an overview of the country's vegetation types.
- Gardeners should check the new Gardening with South African Plants section.
Who it's for
Gardeners and succulent collectors, travelers heading to South Africa, biology students, and anyone curious where the plant on their windowsill came from.
Quick answers
Who runs it? The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).
How often is it updated? Two new Plant of the Week profiles are added each week.
Is it only about South Africa? Mostly South Africa, with plants from the wider southern African region as well.
