RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026
South Africa has won gold and ‘best on show’ at the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show!
South Africa is no stranger to achieving a Gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower; our natural flora has been recognised at the top level 40 times in the history of the flower show. In the past three years, our winning streak has been solidified under the leadership and creative vision of Leon Kluge. The results of 2026 brings the total tally of awards to three consecutive Gold medals, one “Best New Design” award in 2024, and two best on show (Best Exhibit in the Great Pavilion) wins, 2024 and 2026, over the past three years! They do say ‘all good things come in threes’ and we have had three very good years.
With the ‘Life After Fire’ display, Leon and his team, supported by dedicated members of the Grootbos Foundation team and other passionate volunteers, once again brought the remarkable diversity and fire-driven ecosystem of the Cape all the way from South Africa to London.
This year's ‘Life after Fire’ display is a celebration of the resilience of the plants of the Cape, inspired by the fires which tore through the region this past summer. Fire in fynbos is far from a disaster, but is rather a crucial catalyst that resets fynbos ecosystem health, triggering new growth of many different bulbs, orchids and other plants, which makes for an amazingly beautiful, and educational display of the unique beauty resilience of the fynbos landscape.
One of the most striking elements of the display is the recreation of a burned fynbos landscape, using actual burned fynbos collected from farms affected by the fires earlier this year. Combined with architectural proteas and softer looking plants, delicate orchids and brightly coloured wildflowers, the display becomes a celebration of the abundance and diversity that emerges after fire.
Months of tireless preparation, together with the support of this year’s sponsors, including The Rupert Nature Foundation, Hazendal Wine Estate, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and Southern Sun, made this achievement possible.
Cape Flora SA, a non-profit established in 2005, offers their support this year and remains steadfast in its commitment to the sustainable harvesting and growth of the fynbos industry. The display promotes the demand for high-quality fynbos cut flowers in international markets, providing livelihoods for communities within the South African fynbos industry.
Grootbos Foundation is proud to celebrate alongside Leon Kluge and all South Africans, as we witness our botanical heritage acknowledged on the international stage. For the past 23 years, Grootbos Foundation has worked tirelessly to conserve this landscape, while educating local and international communities on its importance.
Most people will have not had the opportunity to marvel at this year’s floral display of South Africa at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London, which is exactly why we are excited to bring the ‘Life After Fire’ display back to its roots to Stanford this September. From 12 to 27 September 2026, you can experience this remarkable floral design in Stanford at Stanford in Bloom village festival.
Our programme of talks and workshops will be announced soon - stay tuned for exciting updates!
