NATIONAL NATIVE POPULAR FLOWERS OF SOUTHAFRICA

National Flower of South Africa

The national Flower of South Africa the Giant or King Protea is the largest of the Proteas, which make up an important part of the Cape Floral Region, a major global biodiversity hotspot and a Unesco World Heritage site. Having an artichoke-like appearance and varieties in color and leaf shapes, the flower-heads of the King Protea lead to the specific name Cynaroides, which means like Cynara (the artichoke). The Proteas also give their name to South Africa's national cricket team.

Other Native and Popular Flowers of South Africa

Although it might seem strange, the cape area of South Africa shares our Bay Area Mediterranean climate which is characterized by mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers and because of this common climate, some flowers native to South Africa feel so common in these parts that their origin will surprise many gardeners. Agapanthus, called African lily, Four of the most common Daisies - Felicia , Gerbera, Osteospermum and Arctotis (African daisy), Phyllica Pubescence, Leucadendrons, Crocosmia, Chasmanthe and Ferraria Crispa are some of them.

Like many other countries around the world, people in South Africa do not miss the opportunity to honor any occasion with celebrations where Roses, Lilies, Gerberas and Carnations are most commonly used to for greetings.

Facts about South Africa

• Famous for its sunshine, South Africa also called Rainbow Nation lies between 22 and 35 degrees south, flanked on the west by the Atlantic Ocean and on the east by the Indian Ocean, whose waters meet at the country's most southern tip, Cape Agulhas.
• South Africa, the only country in the world to voluntarily abandon its nuclear weapons program ranked first in the world for its floral kingdom and is home to the world's smallest succulent plants.
• Ranking amongst the world's top 25 trading nations and largest producers of gold, diamonds and other minerals, South Africa has the world's 32nd largest labour force, 17th largest global producer of electricity, 15th longest network of railway tracks in the world, the 17th longest length of roadways and 22nd largest economy in the world by gross domestic product
• The national flag of the Republic of South Africa was adopted on Freedom Day, 27 April 1994, and first flown 10 May 1994.The national animal of south Africa is Springbok while the national bird of the country is Blue Crane.