Blog

RHS Chelsea Flower Show - 20 May 2025

RHS Chelsea Flower Show - 20 May 2025

Grootbos Foundation

RHS Chelsea Flower Show - 20 May 2025

SAFKA Press Release (South African Floral Kingdom Abroad)

South Africa wins yet another Gold at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

In what can only be described as one of the most monumental displays of South African flora ever displayed abroad, designer Leon Kluge and artist-gardener Tristan Woudberg led a team of passionate volunteers who painstakingly prepared and arranged up to 25 000 stems of fynbos. This year's display was inspired by South Africa's two mighty oceans, the Indian and Atlantic, which have given rise to a multitude of habitats from the fynbos of the Cape to the more subtropical greenery of KZN. RHS President Keith Weed CBE also presented Leon and his team the Lawrence Medal for their 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower display. The Lawrence Medal is awarded to the best floral exhibit over all the RHS shows throughout the calendar year. This is the first time South Africa has received this award.

A dramatic canyon dominated the design which cut through a mountain of Proteas to reveal multiple waterfalls and cliffs which were planted up with cliff-dwelling plants of the eastern escarpment. Some of the feature plants in this part of the display included Streptocarpus (an indigenous relative of the African violet) and the iconic disa orchid which emerged out of the mossy walls of the giant ravine. Other plants from the summer rainfall areas included the striking Sandersonia aurantiaca or Christmas bells as well as flame lilies.

The Storms River mouth located on the border of the Western and Eastern Cape inspired the construction of the ravine with its dramatic living cliffs.

To portray the amber-coloured water of the Cape mountain streams, hundreds of Rooibos tea bags were soaked in the water to give it a typically South African flavour.

This year the display was sponsored by the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve as well as Hazendal Wine Estate, the Rupert Nature Foundation and Southern Sun.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show - 20 May 2025

Grootbos Foundation

Grootbos Foundation is a registered non-profit organisation in Gansbaai committed to conserving the Cape Floral Kingdom and uplifting the communities that reside within it. The foundation protects more than 22,200ha of fynbos landscape and biodiversity on Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and the Walk...

View Profile

What is Xplorio?

Xplorio is your local connection allowing you to find anything and everything about a town.

Watch the Gansbaai Video
Read More

Other Articles

Golf Competition Results for 18 - 21 June 2025

Golf Competition Results for 18 - 21 June 2025

Woensdag 18 en Vrydag 20 geen gholf as gevolg van die weer.

Gansbaai Golf Club
Prestige-vroue-funksie bring hoop en inspirasie

Prestige-vroue-funksie bring hoop en inspirasie

Die vroue-funksie wat Saterdag, 7 Junie 2025 in Gansbaai Primêr se skoolsaal aangebied is...

Gans-Berg Nuus / News
Empowering Youth in Gansbaai!

Empowering Youth in Gansbaai!

Last week, our Grootbos Enterprise Team hosted a 3-day Employability Workshop for 32 motivated young people in Gansbaai.

Grootbos Foundation
Sportprestasies van Gansies

Sportprestasies van Gansies

Daniël de Villiers het die afgelope naweek sy tennisskoene behoorlik laat werk!

Laerskool Gansbaai
Experience Whale Season in Gansbaai at Calamari Self-Catering

Experience Whale Season in Gansbaai at Calamari Self-Catering

Every year from June to December, Gansbaai comes alive as Southern Right Whales!

Calamari Self-Catering
Predikant-poppekas met humor én boodskappe

Predikant-poppekas met humor én boodskappe

"Die idee van 'n Poppekas het baie jare gelede in Venda begin waar ek Sendingpredikant was,” vertel Emerituspredikant, ds Franna Herselman.

Gans-Berg Nuus / News
See All Articles