Cape Town is home to a few champions, but it’s not what you think.
These are Champion Trees, and a few of the local parks and gardens are proud to boast them.
Let’s take a look at where you can find a few of them.
We are the champions
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment gives Champion status to trees or groups of trees that meet certain criteria, namely age, heritage status, or biological attributes.
The Arderne Gardens, a National Provincial Heritage Site in Claremont, feature four Champion Trees, all of which share a rich heritage. The garden was started in 1845 by Ralph Henry Arderne, a timber merchant from England, when he bought the land. He also planted trees from around the world in his garden.
Among these is the Norfolk Island Pine, which is one of the Champion trees. It is 43 meters high. Three other trees share the Champion status, namely, the Moreton Bay Fig, the Queensland Kauri, and the Aleppo Pine. There are also reportedly 15 “unofficial” Champion trees in the garden.
The Company’s Garden in the City Centre sports a magnificent Rubber Tree, otherwise Ficus Elastica, which is reportedly 27 meters tall and is nicknamed the “Company’s Garden Giant”. You can find it around the northern entrance to the garden.
Cape Town is iconic for its rich heritage and the legacies that still stand to this day, whether it’s architectural, cultural, or even arboreal! Cape Town’s oldest and most protected trees are often overlooked, but are important parts of this heritage.
Have you visited a Champion Tree?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11.
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