South Africa is home to nearly 10% of the world’s plant species. Did you know that The Cape Floral Kingdom (or fynbos), one of only six floral kingdoms in the world, is the smallest, and proportionate to size, by far the richest … hence South Africa’s theme Windows on Biodiversity at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show in London.

Created by the SA National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the exhibit is circular, depicting gardens including Kirstenbosch, Harold Porter (Betty’s Bay), Hantam (Northern Cape), Walter Sisulu (Gauteng), Lowveld (Mpumalanga), Free State (Bloemfontein), Karoo Desert (Karoo), Kwazulu-Natal (KZN), Pretoria (Gauteng) and Kwelera (Eastern Cape).

It was designed by the multi-award-winning team of graphic designer David Davidson and landscape designer Raymond Hudson.

Davidson described Chelsea as the most prestigious flower show in the world and a benchmark for horticulture – as well as a wonderful platform for promoting tourism to South Africa since the exhibit will be seen by over 150 000 people.

See here for more on Kirstenbosch national botanical garden and previous award-winning exhibits.

Acknowledgement:[email protected] & image courtesy Ivan Hendricks