South African flora has been winning international awards for its beauty, resilience, and peculiarity.
Including fynbos, which grows naturally in the Western Cape and can also be found in other parts of South Africa. Here are a few award-winning South African plants to take note of and add to your garden shopping or wish-lists to create a truly impressive garden.
Bird of paradise
The Strelitzia flower, also known as the Bird of Paradise, has received one major award: the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
This award recognises plants that are considered outstanding and suitable for gardening. Additionally, some Strelitzia varieties, like “Mandela’s Gold,” have been featured as Plant of the Week by PlantZAfrica.
Black Jack agapanthus
Black Jack Agapanthus was the plant of the year at the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show. It is a vibrant, intensely coloured Agapanthus.
De Wet breeders, who have combined thousands of carefully selected varieties, created this plant with its intense black buds and black-purple striped flower heads. Its vigorous growth, disease resistance, and heat and drought tolerance make it a standout.
Iris
The American Iris Society awards various categories of Iris, including Bearded Iris, and specialises in breeding and growing top-quality Bearded Iris.
South Africa is home to several native wild irises called Dietes, known for their white, yellow, or purple flecked flowers and grass-like leaves.
King protea
The king protea flower, also known as the king sugar bush, is a star attraction in South Africa’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show exhibits.
It has won multiple awards, including gold medals and “Best Exhibit” and “Best New Design” awards. The flower has pink, pointy petals and white artichoke-like spikes in the centre.
South African flora has firmly established itself on the global horticultural scene, with repeat success at leading exhibitions including the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
One of the latest wins, with over 22,000 fynbos stalks, highlighting the beautiful king protea, won not only a Gold but “Best Exhibit in the Great Pavilion” and “Best New Design” in both 2024 and 2025.
Such accolades highlight the unmatched splendour and one-of-a-kind nature of flora in South Africa. Encompassing the flowers, fynbos and vegetation, our pride of which we are custodians to protect, conserve, and something to be include in our garden to preserve their beauty and existence.
Compiled by: Thimna Matika
First published on Garden & Home
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