Get to know 13 plants selected from Sofala. Discover their scientific names, identifying features and growing needs.
Gleditsia triacanthos
A large, elegant, deciduous tree to a height of 30m or more. The trunk and stems are spiny - some of these spines are up to 15cm long. The leaves are made up of many oval-shaped tiny, dark green leaflets, which turn yellow in autumn. Small-
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Persea americana
P. americana is a bushy evergreen shrub or small tree, with glossy, lance-shaped or elliptic leaves, rarely flowering in cultivation in temperate climates
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Corymbia citriodora
Fast-growing, large tree reaching about 30-40m tall in the wild, with smooth, creamy-white, sometimes pinkish bark and strongly lemon-scented, very slender yellowish-green adult leaves to 16cm long. Clusters of 3 white flowers are produced
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Oxalis tetraphylla
A spreading herbaceous perennial up to 10cm in height when in flower, with clover-like green leaves and a dark brown band towards the base of each heart-shaped leaflet. Bright pink funnel-shaped flowers appear from spring to early autumn
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Chenopodium album
A fast-growing, upright, branching annual to 2m high, with silvery green, lightly toothed leaves, which are narrower further up the plant, and mealy white underneath. Produces spikes of small, tightly clustered green flowers, which can go o
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Argemone mexicana
An annual with vivid yellow flowers all summer and prickly blue-green foliage to 60cm in height. It has ornamental prickly seed heads
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Dianthus caryophyllus
A perennial that will develop a woody base with age. Many old and modern carnations have been bred from this species. Single flowers are clove-scented and are variable in colour, appearing in various shades of pink and purple, held above gr
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Syngonium podophyllum
S. podophyllum is an evergreen climber, to 2m tall, compact when young with large arrow-shaped leaves veined and suffused with silvery-white; adult leaves are divided into 5-11 finger-like leaflets. Arum-like flowerheads with cream spathes
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Medicago sativa
Also known as 'alfalfa'or 'purple medic' this herbaceous perennial legume with a deep tap-root and clover-like green foliage produces small purple flowers in the summer followed by flat pea-like fruits. Used in many countries as animal foo
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Abelmoschus esculentus
A deciduous perennial from tropical regions that is grown as an annual in temperate climates. It has hairy leaves deeply cut into 5-7 lobes and hibiscus-like pale yellow flowers to around 7cm wide with dark centres borne in summer and follo
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Strelitzia nicolai
S. nicolai is a massive, evergreen perennial, with oblong, grey-green leaf blades up to 1.5m long on 2m long leaf stalks. In spring it produces blue and white flowers, opening in succession, from blackish, beak-like spathes
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Bougainvillea glabra
A virgorous climber with semi-glossy leaves to 13cm long. In summer it bears flowers formed of papery, petal-like magenta bracts. It requires the protection of a temperate glasshouse or conservatory, although potted plants can be moved outs
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Phyllanthus urinaria is an annual herbaceous plant, usually 10-60 cm tall, with erect to spreading, often reddish stems. Its small, alternate, oblong leaves are arranged in two rows along the branchlets, giving a feathery appearance. Minute
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