Medicinal and traditional herbs in South Africa
South Africa has a strong tradition of herbal medicine and plant-based remedies. Many herbs are known by different local names across regions.
Use this page to discover herbs commonly used in South Africa and how they are known locally.
Popular herb names in South Africa
- Aalwyn
- Ama-chives
- Amerikaanse ginseng
- Bieslook
- Borrie
- Brandnetel
- Fenegriek
- Gemmer
- Heilige basiliekruid
- Hibiskus
- Indiese ginseng
- Kamille
- Kaneel
- Kardemom
- Kassiakaneel
- Knoffel
- Koljander
- Langpeper
- Lavandin
- Laventel
- Maca
- Munt
- Neemboom
- Nooihaarboom
- Oregano
- Paardebloem
- Passieblom
- Pepermunt
- Peperwortelboom
- Pers keëlblom
- Rooibos
- Rooibostee
- Roosmaryn
- Saffraan
- Salie
- Salvia
- Sint-janskruid
- Soet basiliekruid
- Suurlemoenbalsem
- Swart komyn
Herbs used in South Africa
Also known as
- Albasa
- Alubosa
- Aniana
- Bawang besar
- Bawang merah
- Brambang
- Ceapă
- Ceapă comună
- Cebola
- Cebola comum
- Cebolla
- Cebolla cabezona
- Cebolla común
- Cebula
Common in
—
Also known as
- Adi sarımsak
- Aglio
- Aglio comune
- Ahos
- Ail
- Ail commun
- Ajo
- Ajo común
- Alho
- Alho-comum
- All
- Almindelig hvidløg
- Axoxnoacatl
- Ayu ilẹ̀
Common in
—
Also known as
- Almindelig purløg
- Alubosa ewe
- Ama-chives
- Arpagic de tuns
- Bieslook
- Binsenlauch
- Çayv
- Ceapă de tuns
- Cebolinha
- Cebolinha-francesa
- Cebolinho
- Cebollín
- Cebollín francés
- Cebollino
Common in
—
Also known as
- Aalwyn
- Ægte aloe
- Aitoaaloe
- Äkta aloe
- Aloe adevărată
- Aloe vera
- Aloe vera comune
- Aloès vrai
- Aloes zwyczajny
- Aroe vera
- Babosa
- Babosa-verdadeira
- Echte Aloe
- Ekte aloe
Common in
—
Also known as
- Alga spirulina
- Blågrön alg
- Blågrønn alge
- Blauwgroene alg
- Blue-green algae
- Espirulina
- Ganggang spirulina
- Kék-zöld alga
- Sinivihreä levä
- Spirulina
- Spirulina alga
- Spirulina algae
- Spirulina řasa
- Spirulina riasa
Common in
—
Also known as
- Ceai rooibos
- Chá rooibos
- Chai ya rooibos
- Herbata rooibos
- Rooibos
- Rooibos čaj
- Rooibos çayı
- Rooibos te
- Rooibos tea
- Rooibos-tee
- Rooibostee
- Rooibosthee
- Té rooibos
- Teh rooibos
Common in
—
Also known as
- Albero di neem
- Árbol de neem
- Arbore de neem
- Crann neem
- Drvo nima
- Hint leylağı
- Indian lilac
- Intaran
- Margosa
- Margousier
- Mimba
- Miodla indyjska
- Mkilifi
- Mwarobaini
Common in
—
Also known as
- Black tea
- Čaj
- Çay
- Ceai
- Ceai negru
- Ceai verde
- Černý čaj
- Ceylon tea
- Chá
- Chá preto
- Chá verde
- Chai
- Čierny čaj
- Crni čaj
Common in
—
Also known as
- Canela casia
- Canela china
- Canela-cássia
- Canela-da-china
- Cannella cassia
- Cannella cinese
- Cannelle cassia
- Cannelle de Chine
- Cassia cinnamon
- Chinese cinnamon
- Chinese kaneel
- Chinesischer Zimt
- Çin tarçını
- Čínska škorica
Common in
—
Also known as
- Cainéal
- Canela
- Canela de Ceilán
- Canela-do-Ceilão
- Cannella
- Cannella di Ceylon
- Cannelle
- Cannelle de Ceylan
- Canyella
- Cejlónska škorica
- Cejlonská skořice
- Cejlonski cimet
- Ceylon cinnamon
- Ceylon-Zimt
Common in
—
Also known as
- Ægte koriander
- Äkta koriander
- Aşotu
- Chinese parsley
- Cilantro
- Coentro
- Coentro-verde
- Coentro-vulgar
- Coriander
- Coriander leaf
- Coriandolo
- Coriandre
- Coriandre cultivée
- Coriandro
Common in
—
Also known as
- Açafrão
- Açafrão-verdadeiro
- Ægte safran
- Aito sahrami
- Äkta saffran
- Azafrán
- Azafrán verdadero
- Cróch fíor
- Echte saffraan
- Echter Safran
- Ekte safran
- Hakiki safran
- Nghệ tây
- Nhụy hoa nghệ tây
Common in
—
Also known as
- Açafrão-da-índia
- Açafrão-da-terra
- Atale pupa
- Borrie
- Curcuma
- Curcuma long
- Dulaw
- Geelwortel
- Gelbwurz
- Guisador
- Gurkemeie
- Gurkemeje
- Gurkmeja
- Hardi
Common in
—
Also known as
- Beyaz zerdeçal
- Biała kurkuma
- Biela kurkuma
- Bijela kurkuma
- Bílá kurkuma
- Curcuma albă
- Curcuma bianca
- Curcuma blanc
- Cúrcuma blanca
- Curcuma blanche
- Cúrcuma-branca
- Fehér kurkuma
- Hvid gurkemeje
- Hvit gurkemeie
Common in
—
Also known as
- Bíbor kasvirág
- Bunga kerucut ungu
- Bunga kon ungu
- Coneflower
- Coneflower roxa
- Crvena rudbekija
- Cúc tím
- Echinacea
- Echinacea purpurea
- Echinacea purpurová
- Échinacée
- Ehinacea
- Ekinezya
- Ekinezya purpurea
Common in
—
Also known as
- Ægte kardemomme
- Bạch đậu khấu
- Buah pelaga
- Cardamom
- Cardamom verde
- Cardamome
- Cardamome verte
- Cardamomo
- Cardamomo verde
- Green cardamom
- Groene kardemom
- Grön kardemumma
- Grønn kardemomme
- Grüner Kardamom
Common in
—
Also known as
- Adas
- Adas manis
- Almindelig fennikel
- Anís dulce
- Common fennel
- Édeskömény
- Erva-doce
- Fänkål
- Fenchel
- Fenicul
- Fenicul comun
- Fenikel
- Fenikel obyčajný
- Fenkoli
Common in
—
Also known as
- Cendawan lingzhi
- Champignon de l’immortalité
- Cogumelo da imortalidade
- Cogumelo do imperador
- Cogumelo reishi
- Fungo dell’immortalità
- Ganoderma
- Ganoderma lúcido
- Ganoderma lucidum
- Ganoderme luisant
- Gesteelde lakzwam
- Glänzender Lackporling
- Hongo de la inmortalidad
- Hongo reishi
Common in
—
Also known as
- Albero di capelvenere
- Árbol de los cuarenta escudos
- Árbol ginkgo
- Arborele pagodelor
- Arbre aux quarante écus
- Árvore-ginkgo
- Bạch quả
- Crann na Maighdine Gruaige
- Ginkgo
- Ginkgo biloba
- Ginkgo tree
- Ginkgobaum
- Ginko
- Ginko biloba
Common in
—
Also known as
- Asam kumbang
- Atisô đỏ
- Bisap
- Bissap
- Bụp giấm
- Flor de Jamaica
- Hibisco
- Hibiscus
- Hibiskus
- Hibiszkusz
- Ibisco
- Ibišek
- Jamaica
- Ketmia szczawiowa
Common in
—
Also known as
- Äkta johannesört
- Ban âu
- Cỏ Ban Âu
- Common St. John's Wort
- Corazoncillo
- Dziurawiec
- Dziurawiec zwyczajny
- Echt sint-janskruid
- Echtes Johanniskraut
- Erba di San Giovanni
- Erva-de-São-João
- Gospina trava
- Hierba de San Juan
- Hipericão
Common in
—
Also known as
- Chai ya mate
- Chimarrão
- Erva-mate
- Ka'a
- Mate
- Mate čaj
- Mate çayı
- Mate tea
- Mate-te
- Mate-tee
- Teh mate
- Trà mate
- Yerba mate
- Ματέ
Common in
—
Also known as
- Lavanda
- Lavande
- Lavandim
- Lavandin
- Lavandino
- Lavanta
- Lavendel
- Lavender
- Laventel
- Laventeli
- Lawandyn
- Lawenda
- Levanduľa
- Levandule
Common in
—
Also known as
- Ægte lavendel
- Äkta lavendel
- Alfazema
- Echte lavendel
- Echter Lavendel
- Ekte lavendel
- English lavender
- Lavanda
- Lavanda fina
- Lavandă medicinală
- Lavanda vera
- Lavande
- Lavande fine
- Lavande vraie
Common in
—
Also known as
- Ginseng Peru
- Ginseng peruvian
- Ginseng peruviano
- Ginseng péruvien
- Ginseng ya Peru
- Maca
- Maca peruana
- Maka
- Nhân sâm Peru
- Peru ginsengi
- Peruaanse ginseng
- Peruanischer Ginseng
- Peruansk ginseng
- Peruanski ginseng
Common in
—
Also known as
- Adi keten
- Almindelig hør
- Biji rami
- Common flax
- Flaxseed
- Graine de lin
- Graines de lin
- Hạt flax
- Hạt lanh
- Hørfrø
- In cultivat
- Keten tohumu
- Közönséges len
- Lan
Common in
—
Also known as
- Ægte kamille
- Äkta kamomill
- Alman papatyası
- Camamilla
- Camomila
- Camomila-comum
- Camomilla
- Camomilla comune
- Camomilla tedesca
- Camomille
- Camomille allemande
- Camomille matricaire
- Chamomile
- Cúc La Mã
Common in
—
Also known as
- Balm mint
- Citroenmelisse
- Citromfű
- Citronmeliss
- Citronmelisse
- Erva-cidreira
- Lemon balm
- Limunski matičnjak
- Matičnjak
- Medovka
- Medovka lekárska
- Meduňka
- Meduňka lékařská
- Melisa
Common in
—
Also known as
- Bạc hà
- Biber nanesi
- Borsmenta
- Hortelã
- Hortelã-pimenta
- Máta
- Máta peprná
- Mäta pieporná
- Menta
- Mentă creață
- Menta piperita
- Menthe
- Menthe poivrée
- Metvica
Common in
—
Also known as
- Bạc hà
- Daun pudina
- Fodormenta
- Garden mint
- Groene munt
- Grönmynta
- Grønmynte
- Grønnmynte
- Grüne Minze
- Hierbabuena
- Hortelã
- Hortelã-verde
- Húng lủi
- Kadeřavá máta
Common in
—
Also known as
- Acácia-branca
- Albero del rafano
- Árbol de moringa
- Arborele de hrean
- Ben ailé
- Benzolive
- Cây chùm ngây
- Chùm ngây
- Drumstick tree
- Drzewo chrzanowe
- Horseradish tree
- Hrenovac
- Kelor
- Malunggay
Common in
—
Also known as
- Black cumin
- Black seed
- Černucha setá
- Černuška siata
- Černý kmín
- Chimen negru
- Čierna rasca
- Cominho-preto
- Comino negro
- Çörek otu
- Crni kim
- Cumin noir
- Cumino nero
- Czarnuszka siewna
Common in
—
Also known as
- Albahaca
- Albahaca blanca
- Albahaca común
- Albahaca dulce
- Alfàbrega
- Balanoi
- Basal milis
- Basil
- Basilic
- Basilic commun
- Basilico
- Basilico comune
- Basilicum
- Basilika
Common in
—
Also known as
- Albahaca sagrada
- Baasilii qulqulluu
- Banal na balanoy
- Basal naofa
- Basil sanctaidd
- Basilic sacré
- Basilico sacro
- Bazalka posvátná
- Bazylia święta
- Busuioc sfânt
- Heilige basilicum
- Heilige basiliekruid
- Heiliges Basilikum
- Helig basilika
Common in
—
Also known as
- Almindelig merian
- Bergmynte
- Dobromysl
- Dobromysl obecná
- Gewöhnlicher Dost
- Kekik
- Kinh giới cay
- Kungsmynta
- Lebiodka pospolita
- Mäkimeirami
- Marjoram liar
- Mravinac
- Oregano
- Orégano común
Common in
—
Also known as
- Asian ginseng
- Asiatischer Ginseng
- Asiatisk ginseng
- Asya ginsengi
- Aziatische ginseng
- Ginseng
- Ginseng asiatico
- Ginseng coreano
- Ginseng coreean
- Ginseng coréen
- Ginseng Korea
- Ginzeng
- Kore ginsengi
- Koreaanse ginseng
Common in
—
Also known as
- American ginseng
- Američki ginseng
- Americký ženšen
- Amerikaanse ginseng
- Amerikai ginzeng
- Amerikan ginseng
- Amerikan ginsengi
- Amerikaninseng
- Amerikanischer Ginseng
- Amerikansk ginseng
- Beş yapraklı ginseng
- Fembladet ginseng
- Fembladig ginseng
- Five-leaf ginseng
Common in
—
Also known as
- Bunga markisa
- Çarkıfelek
- Cvijet pasije
- Fiore della passione
- Fleischfarbene Passionsblume
- Fleur de la passion
- Floarea-pasiunii
- Flor de la pasión
- Flor-da-paixão
- Golgotavirág
- Hoa lạc tiên
- Kärsimyskukka
- Lạc tiên
- Maypop
Common in
—
Also known as
- Ata gígùn
- Barbaree dheeraa
- Barkono mai tsawo
- Cabai jawa
- Cabe jawa
- Dlhé korenie
- Dlouhý pepř
- Dugi papar
- Hint uzun biberi
- Hồ tiêu dài
- Hosszú bors
- Indiai hosszú bors
- Indian long pepper
- Indiase lange peper
Common in
—
Also known as
- Barkono
- Biber
- Black pepper
- Bors
- Černý pepř
- Čierne korenie
- Crni papar
- Fekete bors
- Hồ tiêu
- Karabiber
- Korenie
- Lada hitam
- Merica hitam
- Mustapippuri
Common in
—
Also known as
- Alecrim
- Alecrim seco
- Biberiye
- Biberiye otu
- Garden rosemary
- Hương thảo
- Kerti rozmaring
- Rhosmari
- Romaní
- Romarin
- Romero
- Romero de Castilla
- Romero de cocina
- Romero seco
Common in
—
Also known as
- Biji chia
- Chia
- Chia seeds
- Chia semienka
- Chia semínka
- Chia sjemenke
- Chia tohumu
- Chiafrø
- Chiafrön
- Chiamag
- Chian
- Chiansiemenet
- Chiasamen
- Chiazaden
Common in
—
Also known as
- Adaçayı
- Ægte salvie
- Äkta salvia
- Common sage
- Echte salie
- Echter Salbei
- Ekte salvie
- Kadulja
- Ljekovita kadulja
- Orvosi zsálya
- Ryytisalvia
- Sage
- Salbei
- Salie
Common in
—
Also known as
- Baza čierna
- Bazga
- Bez černý
- Bez czarny
- Black elder
- Bodza
- Černý bez
- Čierna baza
- Cơm cháy đen
- Crna bazga
- Czarny bez
- Elderberry
- Fekete bodza
- Fläder
Common in
—
Also known as
- Achicoria amarga
- Achicoria silvestre
- Adi karahindiba
- Almindelig mælkebøtte
- Amargón
- Bồ công anh
- Common dandelion
- Công anh
- Dandelion
- Dent-de-lion
- Dente di leone
- Dente-de-leão
- Diente de león
- Gemeiner Löwenzahn
Common in
—
Also known as
- Adi kekik
- Äkta timjan
- Almindelig timian
- Cimbru
- Cimbru de grădină
- Cỏ xạ hương
- Common thyme
- Echte tijm
- Echter Thymian
- Húng tây
- Kakukkfű
- Kekik
- Kerti kakukkfű
- Obični timijan
Common in
—
Also known as
- Abishii
- Alforva
- Alholva
- Bockhornsklöver
- Bockshornklee
- Boy otu
- Bukkehorn
- Bukkehornkløver
- Bukkehornskløver
- Çemen otu
- Cỏ cà ri
- Fenegriek
- Feno-grego
- Fenogreco
Common in
—
Also known as
- Brændenælde
- Brandnetel
- Brännässla
- Brennesle
- Brennnessel
- Büyük ısırgan
- Cây tầm ma
- Common nettle
- Csalán
- Grande ortie
- Große Brennnessel
- Grote brandnetel
- Isırgan otu
- Jelatang
Common in
—
Also known as
- Baldrian
- Cây nữ lang
- Common valerian
- Echte valeriaan
- Echter Baldrian
- Kediotu
- Kozłek lekarski
- Kozlík
- Kozlík lékařský
- Læge-baldrian
- Läkevänderot
- Läkeväxtvaleriana
- Legevendelrot
- Ljekovita odoljen
Common in
—
Also known as
- Álombogyó
- Anh đào mùa đông
- Ashwagandha
- Ašvaganda
- Aşvagandha
- Bufera índia
- Cereja-de-inverno
- Cerise d’hiver
- Ciliegia d’inverno
- Cireașa de iarnă
- Ginseng India
- Ginseng indian
- Ginseng indiano
- Ginseng indien
Common in
—
Also known as
- Akakaduro
- Atalẹ
- Cithar
- Common ginger
- Đumbir
- Gember
- Gemberwortel
- Gemmer
- Gengibre
- Ghimbir
- Gingebre
- Gingembre
- Ginger
- Ginger root
Common in
—