Yellow Everlasting (Helichrysum cooperi)

family Asteraceae

This biennial aromatic herb grows in grassland, often near or on forest margins in the Free State, Mpumalanga, Kwazulu-Natal and Lesotho.

Height about 30cm. The flowers of Helichrysum cooperi attract many small insects like bees, flies and beetles which pollinate them when moving from one to the other. Seed dispersal is by water or wind. The leaves may hold the seed (fruit) with their sticky surface thus preventing them from being blown away by the wind.

Helichrysum cooperi is used as a love charm by the Zulus. The dry leaves are mixed into an ointment which is applied all over the body after the bath. As a result the desired lady finds the man irresistable. From a horticultural point of view Helichrysum cooperi is a good fill-in plant with its bright golden yellow flowerheads which may be produced for more than three months.

Info: http://www.plantzafrica.com

Aarbossie (Selago glabrata)

Family Scrophulariaceae 

Found growing in the Addo region.

Height: about 40cm.

Bell Bush (Hermannia stricta)

Family Sterculiaceae

Grows to about 1m in height.

 It is drought resistant and found only on the arid regions along the Orange River

Karoo Violet (Aptosimum procumbens)

Family Scrophulariaceae

A small plant which grows as a groundcover. Found in the northern regions.

Flower about 1cm in diameter.

Wooly Dolls Rose (Hermannia althaeifolia)

Family Malvaceae

 A small bush about 40-50cm in height found growing in the Cradock region of the Eastern Cape.

Klimop (Cynanchum natalitium)

Family Apocynaceae 

 A creeper with a small flower found growing on the beaches and sandunes along the Natal coast.