There’s a big hype around South Africa’s spring wildflowers every September, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to see for the rest of the year. In fact, autumn showcases some spectacular flowers in several parts of the country. Some of them are fleeting and you have to be quick to catch a glimpse, others will wow us all through winter.
Cosmos
Cosmos is a firm favourite in South Africa. It only blooms for a few weeks in March and April in the Highveld. Step into the countryside of the Free State or Gauteng, and the veld will be covered in pink and white. This year, the country’s interior had above-average rainfall, and the cosmos are exploding.
Take a look at the images shared by John Mullineux.
Picture: Lize Froneman
Sunflowers
These bright and sunny plants bloom during summer, but are often at their most beautiful in autumn before they get harvested in winter. Also spread over the interior of the country, the Free State and North West provinces account for about 80% of South Africa’s farmland used for this plant.
Benjamin William Pearce shared these images taken near Bloemfontein with us.
Picture: Fonnie Froneman
King proteas
This incredibly striking flower blooms in the Western Cape during winter, and several king proteas have already started to show their pretty faces. They have the largest flower heads in the genus Protea. They’re mostly found in the mountains, but seeing them is worth the climb. Take a look at these stunning images taken by Lise Drogemoller.
Picture: Flickr Commons / flowcomm
March lilies
The Brunsvigia bosmaniae, also known locally as the March flower or ‘Maartlelie’, blooms only once a year in a very specific area in the Northern Cape. These flowers will only bloom if it rains during the month of March and if it doesn’t, you’re out of luck, according to botanist Hendrik van Zijl.
Take a look at Van Zijl’s pictures taken at Nieuwoudtville Guesthouse.
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