South Africa’s multi-award-winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show is getting ready to compete again after a 4-year break; they even have a sneak peek to share.
South Africa (12 March 2024) – South Africa’s flora is poised to reclaim its spotlight at the esteemed RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London following a four-year hiatus. Opening its doors to the public on 21 May 2024, this exhibit continues the nation’s storied presence at the renowned flower show, boasting a legacy dating back to 1976 and an impressive tally of 37 gold medals earned over 43 years.
When the sponsor of three decades (1989 – 2019) withdrew their support, a private sector-led team stepped forward to ensure South Africa’s representation, spearheaded by Leon Kluge, an acclaimed horticulturist and landscape designer with numerous international floral exposition awards to his name, along with horticultural specialist Keith Kirsten, conservationist Michael Lutzeyer, and Marinda Nel. A transformative contribution from the Rupert Nature Foundation has secured the future of the project.
Directed by international floral artist Leon Kluge, who clinched the last two gold medals for South Africa, this year’s exhibit draws inspiration from the windswept slopes of the Cape mountains. It will showcase an abundance of Proteas and fynbos cut flowers set amongst a contemporary take of the Cape Fold mountains. As if carved by nature, large panels weave through the landscape creating an earthy backdrop for our vibrant flora to take centre stage. These sculptures take on the role of mountain ranges, dividing and isolating the different biomes of the Cape which have given rise to our unique flora over time. Its weathered surface becomes a canvas on which South Africa’s rich cultural heritage can be recorded through mark-making. The negative spaces in the sheets of rock act as windows, creating new vistas to explore. A multitude of species transition from the high-altitude fynbos to the strandveld brimming with bulbs and geophytes which hug the coastlines. It celebrates the beauty and significance of one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.
Contributions from Michael Lutzeyer and Grootbos Nature Reserve are centred on conservation and community upliftment, while Keith Kirsten brings his wealth of international experience and expertise to the project, not to mention his involvement in the South African exhibit for many decades at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The team also spotlights the Grootbos Florilegium, a collection of botanical illustrations depicting rare plants in the Grootbos Nature Reserve. Marinda Nel, with a background in business development, plays a pivotal role in managing the return of South Africa’s flora to Chelsea.
Cape Flora SA, a non-profit established in 2005, offers their support this year and remains steadfast in its commitment to the sustainable harvesting and growth of the fynbos industry. The burgeoning demand for high-quality fynbos products in international markets is welcomed, providing livelihoods for stakeholders and communities within the South African fynbos industry.
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