Blooming marvelous! Don't miss Grootbos's once-in-a-generation superbloom

The scorched slopes above Walker Bay are giving way to what botanists are calling a once-in-a-generation “superbloom.” Following wildfires that swept through parts of the Western Cape in 2025, the landscape around Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is bursting with colour.

The bloom occurs every 15 to 20 years, triggered by fire in the ancient fynbos biome, the smallest floral kingdom on Earth, yet one of the richest in biodiversity.  

“To witness this once-in-two-decades spectacle is truly a great privilege,” Grootbos GM Sean Ingles tells Time Out, “People so often see fire as a devastating force, but we see the magnificence of re-birth that takes place in the months post the fire and celebrate the new life that comes with it.” 

At Grootbos alone, more than 200 flower species are expected to bloom, including candelabra flowers, mountain dahlias, orchids, and rare endemic plants found nowhere else on the planet. 

Recently, the water heath was found growing in the private reserve, marking the 40th Erica species recorded in the area. “This resprouting Erica blooms soon after fire, which was particularly noticeable as reseeding Ericas usually only reach the flowering stage three to four years after a fire,” added Ingles.

Time Out Tip: The 2026 superbloom event will peak in June, July and August.

Life After Fire wins gold at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

And the timing couldn’t be more fitting. While Grootbos prepares to put on the floral show of the decade back home, South Africa made history at this year's prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show, securing a Gold Medal with a perfect score from judges, alongside the coveted Best Exhibit in the Pavilion and Best New Design awards.

Inspired by the windswept slopes of the Cape mountains, the exhibit was led by landscape designer Leon Kluge and artist Tristan Woudberg, with support from Grootbos founder Michael Lutzeyer and other private sector partners.

The exhibit used more than 25,000 stems of indigenous flowers to celebrate the country’s wildly diverse ecosystems. 

It was no coincidence that this year’s theme was Life After Fire. In South Africa’s display, Leon showcased the importance of fire in a managed way within a fynbos ecosystem. “The Grootbos fire was the way Mother Nature intended. And that’s why Chelsea was all about fire,” said the award-winning landscape designer. 

The display did a beautiful job of showing a moving, breathing, living life cycle of the fynbos region following a fire, from the small bulbs to the annuals to the orchids growing underneath the ash.

Regarding the Grootbos superbloom, Leon notes that it may lead to new discoveries, explaining that fynbos requires fire for a magnificent floral display. “From a human perspective, fires are not always great. From a fynbos perspective, it’s important that it happens. A new species might show.”

Leon Kluge’s tips on chasing the superbloom

Obviously, the Western Cape’s most famous superbloom takes place on the West Coast all the way to Namaqualand. The flowers will start to bloom from the end of this month (June).

Leon recommends the following:

• Visit when the weather is not cloudy or misty
• The flowers only open at 10:30am or 11am when the heat is more visible. 
• All the flowers always face the sun; look back in your car rearview window if you can’t see them from the front.

When visiting the Grootbos superbloom, take note of:

• Fynbos and flowers will bloom all the way from now until the end of September; beginning of October
• It’s the small details that count; look close to the ground to see the diversity of the flowers
• Educate yourself on the different species and watch a few of Leon’s videos on IG (@leonkluge)
• Don’t forget to smell the flowers. Some will have scents; others won’t.