Snowdrops in Europe are renowned for appearing in depths of winter. The drooping white flowers push their way through the snow. Cape Snowdrops, Crassula capensis, reminded the early European settlers of these popular flowers, though the snow was inevitably lacking. Cape Snowdrops appear mostly from May to July (at least…
Erica banksii is one of the iconic ericas of the mountains of the south-western Overberg, including the Klein River Mountains. It is an unmistakable species. The flowers occur in bunches of 3 at the end of short branches. The corolla is a straight white tube. The white filaments of the…
There are few true trees at Phillipskop but in the valley on our eastern boundary, one tree is common, the Rock Candlewood, Maytenus oleoides. Most trees are unable to survive the regular fires that sweep through fynbos every 10 to 20 years. Forest patches in the Cape are confined to…
The True Sugarbush or Suikerbossie, Protea repens, is so well-known that it barely needs any introduction. After the King Protea, Protea cynaroides, it is probably the most familiar of the proteas. It got its common name from the quantity of nectar that the flowers produce. So much in fact that…
Pink and yellow may not be people’s first choice when it comes to home décor or fashion, but when it occurs naturally the combination is exquisite. Here at Phillipskop, we have two species of Oxalis that flower at the same time and in more or less the same habitat: the…
We have highlighted some beautiful and interesting plants on these pages, but Asparagus rubicundus features on account of its status as one of my least favourite plants at Phillipskop. (At least it is native; the invasive alien plants easily beat it in the bad plant category.) It most commonly grows…
