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South Africa

Proteas win again at the Chelsea Flower Show

South Africa's Chelsea Flower Show exhibit, inspired by the Cape Mountains, led by designer Leon Kluge and artist Tristan Woudberg, wowed with its fynbos explosion, rare hybrids and a triumphant return after a hiatus, showcasing the country's rich biodiversity and securing a record-breaking 38th Gold medal.
Proteas win again at the Chelsea Flower Show
Daily Maverick
By Daily Maverick
21 May 2024
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South Africa stole the show at this year’s RHS Chelsea flower show when it won a gold medal with perfect scores from the RHS judges as well as awards for the “Best exhibit in the Pavilion” and the “Best New Design” award. This is unprecedented for South Africa at the Chelsea Flower show. RHS president Keith Weed CBE presented the awards to the team on the opening day of the London show.

Britain's Charles III (L) visits the 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show on 20 May 2024 in London, England. (Photo: Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool / Getty Images)



Team South Africa proudly shows off their awards at the Chelsea Flower Show. (Photo: Mandy Ackerman)



Described as one of the most outstanding exhibits in the history of the Great Pavillion, this year’s design was inspired by the windswept slopes of the Cape Mountains. 

Head designer Leon Kluge and artist Tristan Woudberg led a group of volunteers to create this year’s multi-award display which included large clay sculptures which formed the backdrop for a display of fynbos cut flowers. 

This is Leon Kluge’s third Gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show after winning the top prize in 2018 and 2019 for South Africa. It is South Africa’s 38th Gold medal in its history at the Chelsea Flower dating back to 1976. It’s the first time South Africa has won “Best New Design” and “Best in the Great Pavillion”.

A multitude of species was presented in the display, from the high-altitude fynbos to the strandveld brimming with bulbs which hug the coastlines. The display celebrates the beauty and significance of one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.

An incredible 22,000 stems were used in the display to create a proudly South African explosion of fynbos.

This year special effort was made to include rarely seen hybrids such as Protea “Snow Leopard” as well as the Protea sulphurea and the blushing brides (Serruria florida).

Proteas were a huge part of the SA display. (Photo: Mandy Ackerman)



A multitude of species was presented in the display, from the high-altitude fynbos to the strandveld brimming with bulbs which hug the coastlines. (Photo: Mandy Ackerman)





After a four-year hiatus and the sponsor of three decades (1989-2019) withdrawing their support, a private sector-led team stepped forward to ensure South Africa’s flora was represented. The team which is spearheaded by Kluge, an acclaimed plantsman and landscape designer with numerous international floral exposition awards to his name, along with Keith Kirsten, conservationist Michael Lutzeyer, and Marinda Nel came together to realise South Africa’s return. A transformative contribution from the Rupert Nature Foundation as well as Grootbos Private Nature Reserve along with numerous contributions from the private sector provided the financial support needed to create the display in London.

The team also spotlights the Grootbos Florilegium, a collection of botanical illustrations depicting rare plants in the Grootbos Nature Reserve. DM

Comments (7)

Celiavwyk@gmail.com May 23, 2024, 06:17 PM

Glory to God the Creator and to the hard work if every person involved. I salute you ?

Karin Bloem May 23, 2024, 01:01 PM

A magnificent achievement, well deserved by the talented and hardworking team, under the leadership of Leon Kluge. You make us proud to be South Africans. Keep up the good work!

cboshoff97@gmail.com May 23, 2024, 12:38 PM

I'm not Jewish or Palestinian, merely an objective observer, based on news reports. For years I've seen a pattern of behaviour: Hamas fires rockets into Israel, Israel responds with a military attack. Hamas makes their military bases amongst civilians. This results in the military response by Israel, in targeting the origin of the Hamas attack, inevitably affecting civilians. It seems to me that the inevitable conclusion is that Hamas deliberately ensures that civilians will be killed. This same pattern is repeated. This means that the result is predictable. The October 7th horrific, surprise attack by Hamas on Israel civilians produced, as was to be expected, a far greater military response by Israel. This resulted in a far greater number of Palestinian civilians killed. That, in turn, produced a worldwide response of sympathy for the Palestinians and condemnation of Israel. My conclusion is that this response was the aim of Hamas by deliberating risking the lives of Palestinian civilians. That conclusion, that Hamas wants their civilians to be killed by Israel, was confirmed recently when Israel dropped thousands of warnings to Palestinians to leave a certain area, and Hamas prevented the civilians from leaving and told them to stay. My conclusion is that, in view of the predictability, Hamas is killing Palestinian civilians by setting up and using Israel to pull the trigger. Hamas could prevent Palestinian civilians from being harmed or killed by Israel, but deliberately choose not to do so.

blaxx47 May 24, 2024, 12:17 PM

How did your rubbish get past the moderators? Kindly Delete (or relocate) cboshoff

frankvdv May 23, 2024, 10:35 AM

And to think that we in the Cape have the privilege of hiking year in year out in that magnificent ' fynbos'

Elizabeth Christie May 22, 2024, 09:30 PM

RHS President Keith Weed, how unfortunate. Reminds me of my cookery teacher at school, Miss Fish.

Austin Evans May 22, 2024, 03:31 PM

Where is the South African Tourist Board as a sponsor. Much better than sponsoring a football team!!

Ritey roo roo May 22, 2024, 02:42 PM

Wonderful achievement yet again! It's truly shocking there is no formal govt support for this prestigious event.

Jane Crankshaw May 23, 2024, 07:02 AM

Sadly it does not fulfill BEE criteria! Our Minister of the Environment didn't try hard enough to get the ANC on board although the ANC can still find millions for useless endeavours that allow a little feeding at the trough!