A novel actinomycete, strain TVU1(T), was isolated from leaves of the indigenous South African plant Tulbaghia violacea. Applying a polyphasic approach, the isolate was identified as a member of the genus Micromonospora. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain TVU1(T) was most closely related to Micromonospora echinospora DSM 43816(T). However, phylogenetic analysis based on gyrB gene sequences showed that strain TVU1(T) was most closely related to the type strains of Micromonospora aurantiaca and Micromonospora chalcea. DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain TVU1(T) and the type strains of M. echinospora, M. aurantiaca and M. chalcea were 7.6+/-4.5, 45.9+/-2.0 and 60.9+/-4.5 %, respectively. Strain TVU1(T) could be distinguished from the type strains of all three of these species by several physiological characteristics, such as colony colour, NaCl tolerance, growth temperature range and sole carbon source utilization pattern. Strain TVU1(T) (=DSM 45142(T)=NRRL B-24576(T)) therefore represents a novel species for which the name Micromonospora tulbaghiae sp. nov. is proposed.