Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants (anthophytes) in the order Gentianales, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with interpetiolar stipules and sympetalous actinomorphic flowers. The family contains about 13,500 species in about 620 genera, which makes it the fourth-largest angiosperm family. Rubiaceae has a cosmopolitan distribution; however, the largest species diversity is concentrated in the tropics and subtropics.

23,420 species of vascular plant have been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened. Nine biomes have been described in South Africa: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, desert, Nama Karoo, grassland, savanna, Albany thickets, the Indian Ocean coastal belt, and forests.

The 2018 South African National Biodiversity Institute's National Biodiversity Assessment plant checklist lists 35,130 taxa in the phyla Anthocerotophyta (hornworts (6)), Anthophyta (flowering plants (33534)), Bryophyta (mosses (685)), Cycadophyta (cycads (42)), Lycopodiophyta (Lycophytes(45)), Marchantiophyta (liverworts (376)), Pinophyta (conifers (33)), and Pteridophyta (cryptogams (408)).

65 genera are represented in the literature. Listed taxa include species, subspecies, varieties, and forms as recorded, some of which have subsequently been allocated to other taxa as synonyms, in which cases the accepted taxon is appended to the listing. Multiple entries under alternative names reflect taxonomic revision over time.

Afrocanthium Genus Afrocanthium: Afrocanthium gilfillanii (N.E.Br.) Lantz, indigenous Afrocanthium mundianum (Cham. & Schltdl.) Lantz, indigenous

Agathisanthemum Genus Agathisanthemum: Agathisanthemum bojeri Klotzsch, indigenous Agathisanthemum bojeri Klotzsch subsp. bojeri, indigenous Agathisanthemum chlorophyllum (Hochst.) Bremek. indigenous Agathisanthemum chlorophyllum (Hochst.) Bremek. var. chlorophyllum, endemic Agathisanthemum chlorophyllum (Hochst.) Bremek. var. pubescens Bremek. endemic

Alberta Genus Alberta: Alberta magna E.Mey. endemic

Ancylanthos Genus Ancylanthos: Ancylanthos bainesii Hiern, accepted as Ancylanthos rubiginosus Desf. Ancylanthos monteiroi Oliv. accepted as Vangueria monteiroi (Oliv.) Lantz, indigenous

Anthospermum Genus Anthospermum: Anthospermum aethiopicum L. indigenous Anthospermum basuticum Puff, indigenous Anthospermum bergianum Cruse, endemic Anthospermum bicorne Puff, endemic Anthospermum comptonii Puff, endemic Anthospermum crocyllis Sond. accepted as Plocama crocyllis (Sond.) M.Backlund & Thulin, present Anthospermum dregei Sond. indigenous Anthospermum dregei Sond. subsp. dregei, indigenous Anthospermum dregei Sond. subsp. ecklonis (Sond.) Puff, endemic Anthospermum ericifolium (Licht. ex Roem. & Schult.) Kuntze, endemic Anthospermum esterhuysenianum Puff, indigenous Anthospermum esterhuysenianum Puff var. esterhuysenianum, endemic Anthospermum esterhuysenianum Puff var. hirsutum Puff, endemic Anthospermum galioides Rchb.f. indigenous Anthospermum galioides Rchb.f. subsp. galioides, endemic Anthospermum galioides Rchb.f. subsp. reflexifolium (Kuntze) Puff, endemic Anthospermum galpinii Schltr. endemic Anthospermum herbaceum L.f. indigenous Anthospermum hirtum Cruse, endemic Anthospermum hispidulum E.Mey. ex Sond. indigenous Anthospermum littoreum L.Bolus, endemic Anthospermum monticola Puff, indigenous Anthospermum paniculatum Cruse, endemic Anthospermum prostratum Sond. endemic Anthospermum rigidum Eckl. & Zeyh. indigenous Anthospermum rigidum Eckl. & Zeyh. subsp. pumilum (Sond.) Puff, indigenous Anthospermum rigidum Eckl. & Zeyh. subsp. rigidum, indigenous Anthospermum spathulatum Spreng. indigenous Anthospermum spathulatum Spreng. subsp. ecklonianum (Cruse) Puff, endemic Anthospermum spathulatum Spreng. subsp. saxatile Puff, endemic Anthospermum spathulatum Spreng. subsp. spathulatum, indigenous Anthospermum spathulatum Spreng. subsp. tulbaghense Puff, endemic Anthospermum spathulatum Spreng. subsp. uitenhagense Puff, endemic Anthospermum streyi Puff, endemic Anthospermum welwitschii Hiern, indigenous

Breonadia Genus Breonadia: Breonadia salicina (Vahl) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood, indigenous

Burchellia Genus Burchellia: Burchellia bubalina (L.f.) Sims, indigenous

Canthium Genus Canthium: Canthium armatum (K.Schum.) Lantz, indigenous Canthium ciliatum (Klotzsch) Kuntze, indigenous Canthium gilfillanii (N.E.Br.) O.B.Mill. accepted as Afrocanthium gilfillanii (N.E.Br.) Lantz, indigenous Canthium inerme (L.f.) Kuntze, indigenous Canthium kuntzeanum Bridson, indigenous Canthium mundianum Cham. & Schltdl. accepted as Afrocanthium mundianum (Cham. & Schltdl.) Lantz, indigenous Canthium pseudorandii Bridson, accepted as Afrocanthium pseudorandii (Bridson) Lantz Canthium setiflorum Hiern, accepted as Bullockia setiflora (Hiern) Razafim. Lantz & B.Bremer, present Canthium spinosum (Klotzsch) Kuntze, indigenous Canthium suberosum Codd, indigenous Canthium vanwykii Tilney & Kok, endemic

Carpacoce Genus Carpacoce: Carpacoce burchellii Puff, endemic Carpacoce curvifolia Puff, endemic Carpacoce gigantea Puff, endemic Carpacoce heteromorpha (H.Buek) L.Bolus, endemic Carpacoce scabra (Thunb.) Sond. indigenous Carpacoce scabra (Thunb.) Sond. subsp. rupestris Puff, endemic Carpacoce scabra (Thunb.) Sond. subsp. scabra, endemic Carpacoce spermacocea (Rchb.f.) Sond. indigenous Carpacoce spermacocea (Rchb.f.) Sond. subsp. orientalis Puff, endemic Carpacoce spermacocea (Rchb.f.) Sond. subsp. spermacocea, endemic Carpacoce vaginellata T.M.Salter, endemic

Catunaregam Genus Catunaregam: Catunaregam obovata (Hochst.) A.E.Gonç. indigenous Catunaregam taylorii (S.Moore) Bridson, indigenous

Cephalanthus Genus Cephalanthus: Cephalanthus natalensis Oliv. indigenous

Coddia Genus Coddia: Coddia rudis (E.Mey. ex Harv.) Verdc. indigenous

Coffea Genus Coffea: Coffea racemosa Lour. indigenous Coffea zanguebariae Lour. indigenous

Conostomium Genus Conostomium: Conostomium natalense (Hochst.) Bremek. indigenous Conostomium natalense (Hochst.) Bremek. var. glabrum Bremek. indigenous Conostomium natalense (Hochst.) Bremek. var. natalense, indigenous Conostomium natalense (Hochst.) Bremek. var. ovalifolium Bremek. indigenous Conostomium zoutpansbergense (Bremek.) Bremek. endemic

Coprosma Genus Coprosma: Coprosma repens A.Rich. not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised, invasive

Coptosperma Genus Coptosperma: Coptosperma littorale (Hiern) Degreef, indigenous Coptosperma rhodesiacum (Bremek.) Degreef, indigenous Coptosperma supra-axillare (Hemsl.) Degreef, indigenous Coptosperma zygoon (Bridson) Degreef, indigenous

Cordylostigma Genus Cordylostigma: Cordylostigma longifolia (Klotzsch) Groeninckx & Dessein, indigenous Cordylostigma virgata (Willd.) Groeninckx & Dessein, indigenous

Crocyllis Genus Crocyllis: Crocyllis anthospermoides E.Mey. ex K.Schum. accepted as Plocama crocyllis (Sond.) M.Backlund & Thulin, present

Crossopteryx Genus Crossopteryx: Crossopteryx febrifuga (Afzel. ex G.Don) Benth. indigenous

Diodia Genus Diodia: Diodia dasycephala Cham. & Schltdl. not indigenous, naturalised

Diplospora Genus Diplospora: Diplospora africana Sim, accepted as Empogona africana (Sim) Tosh & Robbr. indigenous

Empogona Genus Empogona: Empogona africana (Sim) Tosh & Robbr. endemic Empogona cacondensis (Hiern) Tosh & Robbr. indigenous Empogona coriacea (Sond.) Tosh & Robbr. indigenous Empogona junodii Schinz, accepted as Empogona kirkii Hook.f. subsp. junodii (Schinz) Tosh & Robbr. indigenous Empogona kirkii Hook.f. indigenous Empogona kirkii Hook.f. subsp. junodii (Schinz) Tosh & Robbr. indigenous Empogona kirkii Hook.f. subsp. kirkii, indigenous Empogona lanceolata (Sond.) Tosh & Robbr. indigenous Empogona maputensis (Bridson & A.E.van Wyk) Tosh & Robbr. indigenous

Eriosemopsis Genus Eriosemopsis: Eriosemopsis subanisophylla Robyns, endemic

Fadogia Genus Fadogia: Fadogia homblei De Wild. indigenous Fadogia tetraquetra K.Krause, indigenous Fadogia tetraquetra K.Krause var. grandiflora (Robyns) Verdc. indigenous Fadogia tetraquetra K.Krause var. tetraquetra, indigenous

Gaillonia Genus Gaillonia: Gaillonia crocyllis (Sond.) Thulin, accepted as Plocama crocyllis (Sond.) M.Backlund & Thulin, indigenous

Galium Genus Galium: Galium amatymbicum Eckl. & Zeyh. endemic Galium bredasdorpense Puff, endemic Galium capense Thunb. indigenous Galium capense Thunb. subsp. capense, indigenous Galium capense Thunb. subsp. garipense (Sond.) Puff var. garipense, indigenous Galium capense Thunb. subsp. namaquense (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Puff, endemic Galium monticolum Sond. endemic Galium mucroniferum Sond. indigenous Galium mucroniferum Sond. var. dregeanum (Sond.) Puff, indigenous Galium mucroniferum Sond. var. mucroniferum, endemic Galium rourkei Puff, endemic Galium scabrelloides Puff, indigenous Galium spurium L. indigenous Galium spurium L. subsp. africanum Verdc. indigenous Galium spurium-aparine complex, endemic Galium subvillosum Sond. indigenous Galium subvillosum Sond. var. subglabrum Puff, endemic Galium subvillosum Sond. var. subvillosum, indigenous Galium thunbergianum Eckl. & Zeyh. indigenous Galium thunbergianum Eckl. & Zeyh. var. hirsutum (Sond.) Verdc. indigenous Galium thunbergianum Eckl. & Zeyh. var. thunbergianum, indigenous Galium tomentosum Thunb. indigenous Galium undulatum Puff, endemic

Galopina Genus Galopina: Galopina aspera (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Walp. indigenous Galopina circaeoides Thunb. indigenous Galopina crocyllioides Bar ex Schinz, indigenous Galopina tomentosa Hochst. endemic

Gardenia Genus Gardenia: Gardenia citriodora Hook. accepted as Mitriostigma axillare Hochst. present Gardenia cornuta Hemsl. indigenous Gardenia lutea Fresen. accepted as Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. var. jovis-tonantis, indigenous Gardenia resiniflua Hiern, indigenous Gardenia resiniflua Hiern subsp. resiniflua, indigenous Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. indigenous Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. var. goetzei, indigenous Gardenia thunbergia L.f. indigenous Gardenia volkensii K.Schum. indigenous Gardenia volkensii K.Schum. subsp. spatulifolia (Stapf & Hutch.) Verdc. indigenous Gardenia volkensii K.Schum. subsp. volkensii var. saundersiae, indigenous Gardenia volkensii K.Schum. subsp. volkensii var. volkensii, indigenous

Geophila Genus Geophila: Geophila repens (L.) I.M.Johnst. indigenous

Guettarda Genus Guettarda: Guettarda speciosa L. indigenous

Hedyotis Genus Hedyotis: Hedyotis gerrardii Harv. ex Sond. accepted as Cordylostigma virgata (Willd.) Groeninckx & Dessein, indigenous Hedyotis virgata Willd. accepted as Cordylostigma virgata (Willd.) Groeninckx & Dessein, indigenous

Heinsia Genus Heinsia: Heinsia crinita (Afzel.) G.Taylor, indigenous Heinsia crinita (Afzel.) G.Taylor subsp. parviflora (K.Schum. & K.Krause) Verdc. indigenous

Hymenodictyon Genus Hymenodictyon: Hymenodictyon parvifolium Oliv. indigenous Hymenodictyon parvifolium Oliv. subsp. parvifolium, indigenous

Hyperacanthus Genus Hyperacanthus: Hyperacanthus amoenus (Sims) Bridson, indigenous Hyperacanthus microphyllus (K.Schum.) Bridson, indigenous

Hypobathrum Genus Hypobathrum: Hypobathrum kirkii (Hook.f.) Baill. accepted as Empogona kirkii Hook.f. subsp. kirkii, indigenous Hypobathrum lanceolatum (Sond.) Baill. accepted as Empogona lanceolata (Sond.) Tosh & Robbr. indigenous

Ixora Genus Ixora: Ixora coccinea L. not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised, invasive

Keetia Genus Keetia: