The Southern Africa Garden officially opens

The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney has officially opened the first thematic garden in 20 years. The Southern Africa Garden is the first of a series of curatorial changes planned for the Garden. 

This new garden includes critically endangered flora from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Situated close to the Henry Lawson Gate, the Southern Africa Garden at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney makes use, of and expands on, the 1850s plantings of African Cycads in the area by Director, Charles Moore. 

A curated collection 

The Southern Africa Garden showcases over 60 species including Encephalartos, Cycas, Stangeria, Gerbera (Garvinea), Delosperma (Ice Plants), Chlorophytum (Spider Plants), Protea, Leucospermum, Leucodendron (Proteas),  Salvia, Plectranthus (Mint bushes) and Streptocarpus (Cape Primrose).

There is also an extensive bulb collection of more than 30 species across 12 genera, many of which are dormant species so bare areas in the garden don't necessarily mean empty space. The collection has been timed so that there will always be something in bloom.

Not just a flower garden

This garden will not only serve as a significant public greenspace but it will also support international conservation programs through the collection of seeds and plant materials. Botanists from the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney are working together with teams in Southern Africa and we also have plant pathologists co-supervising PhD students in Pretoria and Johannesburg. 

Explore the Southern Africa Garden 

The overall outcome is the result of a collaboration from all sections of horticulture  – including Horticultural Management, Nursery, Landscaping, Horticultural Design and Display Horticulture, and the results are amazing. Even the compass bench was constructed on-site using recycled sandstone materials from our sites. Come and see it for yourself!