Uncommon Flora and Precarious Rocks: A Piece of South Africa's Karoo Transferred to London
At the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, The Newt in Somerset is taking visitors on a journey like no other with its jaw-dropping Karoo Succulent Garden exhibit.
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This display, situated for the whole week, calls attention to the incredible diversity and adaptability of indigenous succulents from the Karoo — one of the world's most remarkable desert ecosystems.
The exhibit underscores essential climate adaptation lessons, a dominant theme at the show, with several show gardens focusing on drought-tolerant planting, sandscapes, Mediterranean plants, and replicas of a volcanic landscape.
Hailing from the semi-arid Karoo region of South Africa, this ecosystem is known for its harsh climate, with scorching summers exceeding 40°C, bone-chilling winter temperatures of -15°C, and a yearly rainfall ranging between 5-25cm. Remarkably, the Karoo is an internationally recognized biodiversity hotspot. It's the only arid region on Earth to earn this status, thanks to its astonishing 6,350 vascular plant species, with a whopping 40% being endemic and found nowhere else on the planet. The collection features plants commonly considered houseplants or tender annuals in the UK, like aloes, crassulas, and stapelias.
The exhibit's inspiring plant diversity is driven by a mix of different soil types, stemming from an array of geology, and microclimates produced by the area's topography.
The display emphasizes the various geological elements through a collection of metamorphic stones arranged on plinths, forming a timeline to help visitors understand the exhibit's context.
The main 'garden' area features six sections, each featuring distinct aspects of the Karoo ecosystem and several habitats, such as a forest of iconic quiver trees perched on a shale hill, shimmering quartz fields adorned with small, gem-like succulents, and the famous butter bush landscape.
The garden was designed by the estate architect, Katie Lewis. "Trying to encompass the essence of various succulent landscapes and consolidating them into a single composition was challenging," she confesses. "We built both scale models and full-scale samples to help our ideas evolve."
Lewis developed the concept in collaboration with Ernst van Jaarsveld and Cornell Beukes, botanical experts from The Newt's South African sister estate Babylonstoren. "This garden highlights our rich diversity of succulents," explains Ernst. "It's my hope that it motivates people to employ rocks and plants to craft their own architectural masterpieces."
Apart from the plants, the exhibit is filled with playful interactive elements, including water-spouting wildlife sculptures and a sonic rock piano — an arrangement of stones producing melodic tones when struck — that has garnered the attention of visitors.
Following the show's conclusion, the entire installation is set to be relocated to The Newt in Somerset, where it's planned to become a permanent part of the extensive gardens.
Karoo Succulent Garden Enrichment Insights:
The exhibit offers a stunning illustration of the unique biodiversity and resilience of succulents from the Karoo region.
- Botanical Riches: The Karoo Succulent Garden features plants from 15 different plant families, demonstrating the region's extraordinary botanical wealth despite the harsh climate[1][3].
- Insights into Climate Adaptation: By showcasing succulents that flourish in extreme conditions, the exhibit aims to educate visitors on climate adaptation. It showcases how these plants have adapted to thrive in arid environments, offering valuable insights into sustainable gardening practices[3].
- Educational Impact: The exhibit is part of a broader focus at the Chelsea Flower Show on climate adaptation and sustainable gardening practices. It inspires visitors to consider incorporating drought-tolerant plants into their own gardens, promoting sustainable gardening in regions with milder climates[1][3].
- Lifelike Karoo Landscape: The exhibit recreates the arid landscapes of the Karoo region, featuring towering quiver trees and minuscule lithops, among other succulents. This recreation not only offers an aesthetically pleasing display but also provides a unique educational experience, transporting visitors to the Karoo ecosystem.
- The Karoo Succulent Garden at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show showcases the botanical riches of the Karoo region, featuring plants from 15 different plant families, despite its harsh climate.
- By exhibiting succulents that thrive in extreme conditions, the Karoo Succulent Garden aims to educate visitors on climate adaptation, offering valuable insights into sustainable gardening practices.
- The exhibit is a permanent addition to The Newt in Somerset's gardens, where it will serve as a testament to the unique biodiversity and resilience of succulents from the Karoo region.
- The Karoo Succulent Garden is part of a broader focus at the Chelsea Flower Show on climate adaptation and sustainable gardening practices, inspiring visitors to consider incorporating drought-tolerant plants into their own gardens.
- Apart from the plants, the exhibit features interactive elements like water-spouting wildlife sculptures and a sonic rock piano, creating an immersive, educational experience for visitors interested in environmental science, lifestyle, home-and-garden, education-and-self-development, and learning.
