Know, grow, protect and enjoy South Africa’s indigenous plants

KNOW
GROW
Protect
ENJOY

People for Plants

There has never been a more important time to support and protect the natural wonders that grow on South African soilThe Botanical Society of South Africa (NPO 003-394) is a member-driven organisation that offers citizen scientists, amateur nature enthusiasts, the general public, and environmental experts the opportunity to join hands and be a part of the solutions to biodiversity challenges across the country. Our mission is to win the hearts, minds and material support of individuals and organisations, wherever they may be, for the conservation, cultivation, study and wise use of the indigenous flora and vegetation of South Africa. 

Know

Learn about South Africa’s diverse indigenous plant heritage, why their ecosystems matter so much, and how to conserve them in your own area. Read more.

 

Grow

Meet like-minded people who grow indigenous plants for enjoyment and conservation. Plant South African flora and watch these naturally water-wise plants create a safe haven for pollinators and wildlife at home. Read more.

Protect

Initiate, implement and maintain effective conservation efforts in rural and urban landscapes, wherever you are in South Africa, with the support of knowledgeable experts partnering with many other organisations to build our network. Read more.

 

Enjoy

From wild spaces and botanical gardens, to urban green corridors and your own backyard, our flora will ensure South Africa is a beautiful environment that brings people together with nature and each other. Read more.

Conserving our natural heritage, for all, forever

The Botanical Society was formed more than a century ago to help develop and support the country’s national botanical gardens. BotSoc’s mission has since grown to supporting plant conservation across South Africa through its branches and by working with key partners. 

BotSoc is 110 years old!

That makes us one of the oldest and most established environmental non-profit organisations in South Africa.

Since we were established in 1913, we have focused on caring for and protecting South Africa’s indigenous plants through our incredible members. While our role and conservation priorities may have changed over the course of the 110 years, our love of indigenous plants never has.

Enjoy this 110-year snapshot through the voices of our Chairperson Kyra Lunderstedt and members.

Our Conservation Work

BotSoc champions biodiversity conservation in South Africa to protect our extraordinary plant diversity and ecosystems. 

Crew Programme 

KZN
STEWARDSHIP

Succulent plant crisis

Ex-situ plant collections

Latest Conservation News

Many lichens are still mysteries to science
Webinar 20 years of CREW
Haasendal Restoration: Saving fynbos
Halting the illegal succulent plant trade
Plant spotters to the rescue
Webinar: Plant Taxonomy
Getting to know the secretive Nama-Karoo Biome
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Feel good about your Contribution to Conservation

DONATE
WHY JOIN?

Join hands with us

The Botanical Society of South Africa works to promote the conservation, cultivation, study and wise use of the indigenous flora of southern Africa for the benefit and sharing of all. Donating to BotSoc helps us to form new partnerships and mobilise resources to make worthy contributions, such as creating sustainable jobs and livelihood opportunities in South Africa’s conservation economy.

People for Plants

There has never been a more important time to support and protect the natural wonders that grow all over South Africa. BotSoc SA (NPO 003-394) offers citizen scientists, amateur nature enthusiasts, the general public, and environmental experts the opportunity to join hands and be a part of the solutions to biodiversity challenges across the country. Together, we are a critical mass of people uniting through our love for protecting plants. Sign up as a member today and feel good about your contribution to conservation. 

#PlantPeople

Upcoming Events

30 November 2023

Plant Conservation Webinar

 

Indigenous food – From field trials to table

In our final webinar for 2023, we take a look at South Africa’s indigenous crops: at how to choose them, grow them, and also how to eat them! 

We’re joined by Dr Hennie Fisher of the @University of Pretoria, Curator of the Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden’s Future Africa Orphan and Indigenous Crops Collection and BotSoc’s Conservation Project Coordinator for the Northern Region Richard Hay, ice cream and people connector Tapiwa Guzha and food activist Zayaan Khan who will detail some of the exciting field to table work they’re undertaking with indigenous plant species.  

24-27 Nov 2023

International
Great Southern BioBlitz 2023

28 January 2024

Weskus branch
Disa Walk

MORE

Groot Wintershoek Wilderness Area

Latest #BotSocSA News

A garden, a yard and a branch: A Garden Route story
While the Garden Route branch is an impressive 31 years old, BotSoc itself is this year celebrating 110 years
Webinar: Inspiration for growers
No matter whether you have a windowsill, balcony or garden, there’s so much you can do at home to better appreciate plants and wildlife.
The soul of a hiker
Nina du Plessis is a financial administrator but she was born with hiking in her soul
The power of palmiet
You can help restore watercourses by propagating palmiet with this step-by-step guide.
Meet the curator
The flower feast has taken my breath away during my first spring in charge at Hantam botanical garden
A mystery of mangroves
Their getaway in northern Mozambique set honeymooners JOANNE & JONATHAN DEIGHTON a surprise puzzle
Geoff Nichols – Coastal gardening for your garden’s inhabitants
If you want to add some colour to your coastal garden, or if you’re keen to make your garden a veritable hub for our wonderful critters, then winter is the time to start preparing your green space.
Solving orchid puzzles
The contents of a plant pot set Dean Phillips on a trail through four provinces to pin down the identities of a baffling genus of forest orchids.
Growing branches, growing people, growing communities
Young people in Limpopo are making their voices heard for plant conservation. In order to achieve that, they have relaunched the Limpopo branch of the Botanical Society of South Africa.
110 years of protecting plants
We’re 110 years old! That makes the Botanical Society of South Africa one of the oldest and most established environmental non-profit organisations in South Africa.
Webinar: Tree conservation
We’re turning to an international expert to better understand the state of trees globally.
Fynbos gardeners: Why you should get your hands dirty this autumn
Autumn is the ideal time for Cape fynbos gardeners to get busy. From your beautiful spring-flowering geophytes, such as the gorgeous Gladioli, to spring-flowering annuals.
Circle of life
“I wanted to pass on information and insights that I had gathered about the bushveld and what makes it tick in a format that is readable, less scientific and novel,”
The quirks of growing Lowveld Chestnut
The Lowveld Chestnut is a fascinating species restricted in nature to the terrain surrounding the granite inselbergs in and between Nelspruit and Barberton with some populations

Locate your Branch

ALBANY

Free State

Limpopo

Southern Overberg

Algoa

Garden Route

KZN Coastal

Winelands

Cederberg

Gauteng

KZN Inland

Weskus

Kogelberg

Lowveld

Kirstenbosch

Hours

Monday to Friday 08h30 to 16h00. Closed on weekends and public holidays.

Contact Us

We are experiencing intermittent faults with our landlines, please phone +27 21 797 2090 or send a message to our alternate WhatsApp number if required
+27 65 922 6163.

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