Cocoa pods
Aloe ferox
In November, the cocoa trees are heavily laden with
ripening pods. Although native to the rainforests of South America, most of our cocoa today is grown by small farmers in West Africa. By December, the focus turns to coffee, with Coffea
arabica fruiting heavily with its bright red berries looking very festive. Arabica coffee dominates the world market, and is regarded by most experts as producing the highest quality beans. If you step out of the January chill, and into the steamy
heat of the rainforest, you will find a world of luxuriant foliage, tropical fruits and beautiful flowers, like Solandra maxima, often referred to as the cup of gold vine, and the red powder-puff plant, Calliandra haematocephala. The stunning purple Crinum is blooming happily beside the lily pool.
Mediterranean Biome The vigorous, evergreen climber, Podranea ricasoliana, shows off its large bunches of fragrant, lilac-pink, trumpet-shaped flowers in early autumn. It is a great favourite among South African gardeners as well as visitors.
Sweetly scented blossom adorns the loquat trees in
November. In bud, the flower clusters have an unusual rusty, woolly texture, but open with the promise of succulent golden fruits to come in the spring. The grapevines are still ablaze with autumn colour and
the amazing fruits of the California buckeye, Aesculus californica, are beginning to split. Festive displays of vibrant cyclamen are set to brighten
even the darkest December days in the centre of the Biome, and the ‘winter wonderland’ theme continues in the Med Terrace, where colourful garlands of dried chilli peppers and Chinese lanterns provide the perfect backdrop for seasonal activities and story-telling. Just before Christmas, the whole horticultural team
get together and plant the thousands of tulip bulbs and Ranunculus that will provide such a stunning display in early spring. In January, the magnificent scarlet and gold candelabra-
shaped flowers of the Cape aloe, Aloe ferox, herald in the New Year in South Africa, along with beautiful proteas, ericas and pure white zantedeschias. January is definitely the month when South Africa at Eden becomes a plant lover’s paradise.
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