Lookalike – But, Not Quite!

By Nqobile Makhaye

When I was in primary school with twins…

Young as I am, I still remember this event like it was yesterday! I was speechless; they looked so alike – same height, same eyes, and the same hairstyle. For a moment, I genuinely thought I was seeing double! But as the conversation flowed, I started noticing small differences: the way they spoke, their sense of humour, even the way they stood. That moment reminded me of something I often see in the plant world.

Just like people, some plants look nearly identical, especially when they’re from the same plant family, or even when they’re not related at all. Think of it like how someone from your neighbourhood might be a lookalike of a celebrity they’ve never met. The resemblance is striking, but if you look a little closer, you’ll notice features that set them apart.

In this article, the goal is to help you understand the difference between look-alike plants: those we allow in Simbithi and those we don’t, even if they look beautiful or like the permitted species.

The plants we disallow are alien invasive species. That means they don’t belong in our local ecosystems and can cause serious damage to biodiversity. Under South African law (NEMBA), these species are prohibited, not only from being planted in your garden, but even from being kept in a pot. They must be removed and destroyed where they are found.

This article highlights both the “twins” we celebrate and the “imposters” we need to manage responsibly. While every plant has a beauty of its own, whether it’s in the shape of its leaves, the colour of its flowers, or its year-round character, not all plants belong in our protected eco-estate.

“Not everything that blooms belongs.” A gentle reminder that beauty alone doesn’t make a plant the right fit for our environment, and ecological beauty lies not only in appearance.

Let’s explore how to tell them apart.

The featured plants below are with almost similar, with broad green leaves but distinct flowers.

Zantedeschia aethiopica– Arum lily: Leaves are large, heart-shaped to arrow-shaped, deep green leaves with a prominent central vein runs through the leaf.
Canna indica -Indian shot : The leaves are large, banana-like, waxy, and ovate to elliptical in shape leaf, it has a non-woody stem 75–150 cm. This is an alien plant.
Strelitzia nicolai – Giant white bird of paradise: The leaves are paddle-shaped, leathery, and typically grow in a fan-like arrangement.
Strelitzia reginae– Bird of paradise: The leaves are oblong, broad, and oval with a smooth texture, veins are prominent and run parallel to the leaf margins .

Feature	Zantedeschia aethiopica	Canna indica	Strelitzia nicolai	Strelitzia reginae	Similarities	Distinguishing Features
Leaf Type	Arrow-shaped or lanceolate	Large, banana-like, paddle-shaped.	Large, banana-like, upright	Broad, leathery, banana-like	All have bold, ornamental foliage, evergreen leaves.	Zantedeschia has more arrow-shaped leaves; Strelitzia has stiffer, waxy leaves
Flower Colour	White, yellow, pink, purple (depending on variety)	Red, orange, yellow, pink	White and dark blue/purple	Orange and blue with purple bracts	All produce attractive, showy flowers	Strelitzia’s bird-like shape is unique; Zantedeschia has a spathe and spadix
Inflorescence Type	Solitary spathe surrounding a spadix	Clusters on erect stalks	Larger bird-like flower structure	Bird-like flower on a horizontal spathe	All have prominent flowering structures	Arum lily has a spathe-&-spadix; Strelitzia has a boat-shaped bract, Canna flowers grow on short stalks that are 2 to 10 ml long
Height	Non-woody stems 0.3–1 m	Non-woody stems 75–150 cm	Non-woody trunk – Large, tree-like, evergreen perennial, can reach up to 10–12 m	Non-woody stems 1–1.5 m

The plants below are aerennials with almost similar linear leaves and bell-shaped flowers

Crinum macowanii– River lily: Leaves emerge directly from the top of the bulb, at ground level. Leaves are large, strap-like, and bright green, the midrib can be prominent and slightly rough with wavy margin. Flowers are bell-shaped white with pink stripes.
Crinum moorei– Natal lily: Crinum moorei has leaves that grow from a thick, stem-like base called a pseudostem. This is made from tightly rolled leaf bases that protect the growing tip. Even after the leaves die back, the pseudostem stays in place- Long, flat, bright green leaves emerge in a rosette. Flowers are funnel-shaped, white or pink in colour.
Lilium formosanum– Formosa lily: Leaves are long, narrow, linear to lanceolate, dark green, and shiny. Flowers are trumpet-shaped, white with reddish purple on the outside. This is alien plant.

Perennials with almost similar linear leaves and bell-shaped flowers
Plant	Distinguishing Features	Similarities	What May Look Similar At a Glance
Crinum macowanii	Large, pink to white lily-like flowers. Narrow, wavy-edged leaves. Flowers in a round cluster on a tall stalk.	Looks like Crinum moorei in flower and leaf shape.	Can be confused with Crinum moorei — both have big pink flowers.
Crinum moorei	Pale pink or white flowers. Broader, smooth-edged leaves. Grows in moist, shady places.	Same genus and flower type as Crinum macowanii.	Looks very similar to C. macowanii unless you check the leaves.
Lilium formosanum	Tall plant with large, white, trumpet-shaped flowers. Narrow, grassy leaves. Fragrant.	Has tall, showy flowers like Crinum species.	May be mistaken for Crinum before flowers open. Flower shape is key difference.

These are plants with similar strappy leaves, dwarf plant resembling the larger plant.

Agapanthus praecox– Common Agapathus : Leaves are long and narrow, resembling straps, They grow in dense clumps from the base of the plant. Flowers are funnel-shaped, often denser flower clusters. Agapanthus praecox is larger than Agapanthus campanulatus. (Up to 1.5 m tall)
Agapanthus campanulatus- Dwarf Agapanthus: Leaves are narrow, arching, and shorter than Agapanthus p. Flowers are bell-shaped (campanulate), more spaced flowers. Smaller than Agapanthus c. ( 30–60 cm tall)
Clivia miniata– Bush lily: Clivia miniata is a clump-forming perennial with dark green, strap-shaped leaves (Broader, strap-shaped leaves than Clivia gardenii) which arise from a fleshy underground stem, The flowering heads of brilliant orange (rarely yellow), trumpet-shaped flowers.
Clivia gardenii– Major garden’s clivia. Leaves narrow, strap-shaped leaves that taper to a point and pendulous

Plants with similar strappy leaves, dwarf plant resembling the larger plant
Plant	Distinguishing Features	Similarities	What May Look Similar At a Glance
Agapanthus praecox	Tall plant with broad, strap-like leaves. Big round heads of blue or white flowers on long stalks. Blooms in summer.	Similar flower shape and leaf type to A. campanulatus from afar.	Can be confused with A. campanulatus; both have round blue flower heads.
Agapanthus campanulatus	Smaller than A. praecox. Leaves are narrower. Flowers are lighter blue and more delicate.	Same genus as A. praecox. Both have blue/purple flowers on stalks.	Looks like a smaller version of A. praecox.
Clivia miniata	Dark green, broad, strap-like leaves. Bright orange or red trumpet-shaped flowers in a bunch. Blooms in spring.	Same leaf shape as Agapanthus and Clivia gardenii.	Leaves almost look like Agapanthus when not in flower.
Clivia gardenii	Similar to Clivia miniata but flowers are tubular, droop downward, and are orange with green tips. Blooms in autumn.	Same growth habit and leaves as C. miniata.	May be confused with C. miniata unless you look at flower shape.
Haemanthus albiflos	Low-growing plant with thick, soft, dark green leaves and white brush-like flowers with yellow tips. Grows in shade.	Like Clivias, has fleshy leaves and prefers shade.	Can look like a small Clivia plant without flowers. Flower shape is very different.

These plants have strappy leaves, as above, and rounded flower clusters on a stalk.

Haemanthus albiflos– White paint brush

Leaves are oblong, strap-like, and glossy green, sometimes with soft hairs. Flowers are compact, white, paintbrush-like umbels with protruding stamens tipped with bright yellow or orange anthers.

These plants have rounded flower clusters raised on a stalk.

Scadoxus multiflorus– African blood lily: leaves are arranged in a spiral fashion, they are strap-like, and lance-shaped, it has round flower head made up of many small red flowers, each floret has yellow-tipped stamens.
Scadoxus puniceus– Paintbrush lily: Has glossy green, wavy-margined leaves, often speckled at the base, and forming a pseudostem, Large, dense heads of scarlet flowers with bright yellow anthers, resembling a powder puff or paintbrush. Scadoxus puniceus is often confused with Scadoxus membranaceus, but the latter lacks a pseudostem (leaves that grow from a thick, stem-like base )
Scadoxus membranaceus – Dwarf paintbrush: leaves emerge directly from the bulb, not from a pseudostem, flowers are brush-like, orange flowers.
Scadoxus multiflorus subsp katherinae- Katherine wheel. It has large, thin-textured leaves arranged in a rosette, and a pseudostem formed by overlapping leaf bases. The plant has big round bunches of red-orange flowers. Each bunch can have up to 200 small flowers and grows above the leaves with stamens that are bright yellow, protruding from flowers.

Plants with rounded flower cluster raised on a stalk.
Plant	Distinguishing Features	Similarities	What May Look Similar At a Glance
Haemanthus albiflos	Low-growing. Thick, dark green, soft leaves. White brush-like flowers with yellow tips. Grows in shade.	Same family as Scadoxus. All have cluster-type flowers.	Leaves may look like some Scadoxus species. Flowers are flat-topped, not round.
Scadoxus multiflorus	Bright red round flower head (like a fireball). Long stalk. Flowers appear above the leaves.	Similar flower form to S. katherinae.	Looks like a red ball on a stick. Can be confused with S. katherinae.
Scadoxus multiflorus subsp. katherinae	Taller than S. multiflorus. Blooms in summer. Larger flower head. More robust.	Same type of red round flowers. Grows in similar conditions.	Often mistaken for S. multiflorus unless size and season are checked.
Scadoxus puniceus	Flowers orange-red, more flat and open than round. Green bracts below flower head. Strong stem.	Same leaf and stem type as other Scadoxus.	At a glance, can look like S. multiflorus, but flower shape is flatter.
Scadoxus membranaceus	Smallest species. Grows very low to the ground. Small red flower head, narrow leaves.	Has red flower like others. Grows in shade.	Might be overlooked or mistaken for a young Scadoxus. Tiny version of others.

The following plants have pencil-like stems.

Euphorbia tirucalli (Green Form) – Natal rubber tree : Bright green, uniform stem colour, pencil like stems that are pencil thick, which have a milky white, toxic and irritating.
Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks on fire’– Golden pencils: pencil like stems that are pencil thick, which have a milky white, toxic and irritating, Yellow shades stems (especially in sun). Not locally indigenous (Not on Simbithi plant list)

Pencil like stems
Euphorbia tirucalli (Green Form)	Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks on Fire’	Looks Similar At a Glance
Bright green, uniform stem colour	Bright coral, orange, pink, yellow shades (especially in sun)	Shape and structure are identical; only colour distinguishes
Upright, shrubby to tree-like (up to 4–7 m)	Same growth form but often smaller due to slower growth	Both have pencil-thick, leafless stems
Smooth, cylindrical, green stems	Same texture but with vibrant colouring	Both have many pencil-like stems and appear leafless
Tiny, short-lived at tips; usually fall off quickly	Tiny, short-lived at tips; usually fall off quickly	Both appear leafless year-round

These are trailing plants with almost similar leaf shapes or flowers

Senecio tamoides– Canary creeper: leaves are fleshly roughly triangular with uneven lobes, Flowers are yellow, daisy-like in shape, and are borne in large clusters at the tips of the stems
Distephanus angulifolius– Trailing bitter-tea: Leaves are deeply lobed, angular leaves; whitish-mauve daisy-like flowers in loose heads
Mikania natalensis – Natal mikania Leaves are heart-shaped, and long-pointed, widely and irregularly toothed margins , cream whitish flowers are small, arranged in loosely branched rounded clusters
Chromolaena odorata– Paraffin weed: Leaves arrowhead-shaped, three prominent veins with a forked appearance. Flowers are small, fluffy whitish-mauve flower heads. This is an alien plant.

Trailing plants with almost similar leaf shapes or flowers
Plant	Distinguishing Features	Similarities	What May Look Similar At a Glance
Distephanus angulifolius	Scrambling shrub or small tree; deeply lobed, angular leaves; whitish-mauve daisy-like flowers in loose heads	Belongs to Asteraceae (like the rest); daisy-type flowers	May be confused with Chromolaena due to shrub-like habit and yellow flower clusters
Milkania natalensis	Twining woody climber; glossy, opposite leaves; small whitish flower heads ; rough stem	Also Asteraceae; climbing habit like Senecio tamoides	Can resemble Senecio tamoides if not in flower due to growth form
Chromolaena odorata	Upright, spreading shrub; soft, triangular leaves with toothed margins; whitish flower clusters; highly invasive	Daisy family flower structure like Distephanus; shrubby habit	Could be mistaken for Distephanus when not in flower; both have soft foliage and similar bush form
Senecio tamoides	Vigorous, fast-growing climber; bright yellow daisy-like flowers, succulent stems; deeply lobed leaves	Similar climbing habit and yellow flowers	May look like Milkania natalensis or Distephanus due to leaf shape

These are plants with coloured flowers and almost similar leaf shapes

Plectranthus fruticosus– Forest spur-flower: Leaves are broadly ovate, toothed, The leaves are heavily veined. Flowers are small pink to mauve in colour, arranged in upright, terminal spikes, often reaching 15-20cm in length.
Plectranthus zuluensis– Zulu spur flower- Leaves are Ovate (egg-shaped), sometimes broadly ovate. Soft, semi-succulent, coarsely toothed. Flowers are tubular and small in purple/mauve arranged in whorls along the stalk (6-10 cm)
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis– Porterweed: Leaves are Ovate (egg-shaped) to elliptic (oval), has coarsely toothed margins , prominent veins on both the upper and lower surfaces. The leaves are typically described as dark green and smooth, with the veins being deeply impressed on the upper surface, giving it a rugose or uneven texture. The flowers small purple tubular flowers are arranged along long, curved, slender spikes that can be 15-50 cm long. This is an alien plant.

Plants with similar colour flower and almost similar leaf shapes
Distinguishing Features	Similarities	What May Look Similar At a Glance
Soft, woody shrub; aromatic, hairy leaves; pink, mauve, or pale purple flowers in upright spikes	Similar foliage and flowers to P. zuluensis; same genus	Can be mistaken for P. zuluensis when not in flower
More trailing or sprawling form; glossy, deep green leaves; vivid blue to violet-blue flowers; slightly less hairy	Both are shade-tolerant, flower in spikes, and belong to the same genus	Often confused with P. fruticosus, especially in vegetative state
Slender, wiry upright flower spikes with widely spaced small blue/purple flowers; coarser toothed leaves; often more herbaceous	All three attract pollinators and produce purple-toned flowers	Flower spikes may resemble Plectranthus spikes from a distance, but structure is different on closer inspection