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    Spreading the word about the joys of gardening.

Media Coverage


Keith is a regular presence on South Africa radio – and now you can find him online, too.

Keith could be described as a gardening evangelist, especially when it comes to encouraging people to convert to the “new gardening”. That is, a more eco-friendly and sustainable approach to garden and landscape management. It’s all about being a gentler gardener – no harsh chemicals, less water usage, and planting more indigenous varieties of plant and shrub.

Keith continues to share his love for gardening – and his profound knowledge. He loves the way that the internet lets him connect with many more people all at the same time, and he was one of the first well-known gardeners to see its potential. Scroll down to watch some of his latest YouTube videos.

Glorius Sustainable Garden

SA gardening guru KEITH KIRSTEN explains how he has changed the habits of a lifetime and learned to love the exciting new opportunities he finds in sustainable, indigenous gardening

In this article by Veld & Flora, Keith Kirsten gives you the top 10 sustainable gardening tips, such as "Look around you: For your garden to be as waterwise as possible, aim to rehabilitate it to what would have been its original natural state. Be careful not to use sterile hybrids of indigenous plants – double-flower varieties, for example, do not have nectar for pollinators."

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Nelson Mandela Rose

Made in Chelsea. Proudly South African


The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)’s Kirstenbosch–South Africa Chelsea Flower Show exhibit has had a long and very successful history, winning multiple RHS gold medals and special awards at the world’s most prestigious garden show. South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has won a gold medal at the 2019 Chelsea Flower Show, this is the 37th time that SANBI Kirstenbosch will be bringing home gold from this highly anticipated event on the British calendar – in the safe hands of designer, Leon Kluge (who has been handed the baton by legendary designers David Davidson and Raymond Hudson). This year’s theme was “Mountains of Abundance” and anyone viewing the model for the 2019 exhibit will be immediately struck by contemporary hand-made three metre high slate mountain, with one side depicting a silhouette of Table Mountain and the other of the Magaliesburg.

Nelson Mandela Rose - UK Launch


London’s Trafalgar Square is known for Nelson’s Column and South Africa House, and the latter was the setting for the UK launch event of another icon: The Nelson Mandela rose.

We were honoured to be invited by SA High Commission Her Excellency Nomatemba Tambo to a glittering occasion which paid tribute to the work of Madiba and celebrated his legacy in the shape of the rose that bears his name.

The event was sponsored by our friends from Lasher Tools (UK), who were represented on the evening by Ian Livingston. Fittingly for an occasion that paid tribute to one of the greatest ever African statesmen, dignitaries from across the continent were also present. They included representatives of Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho and Malawi.

In addition to celebrating Madiba’s enduring gifts to our nation, the launch also provided an opportunity to celebrate the best of contemporary South African horticulture and garden design.

South African garden designer Leon Kluge and his team also attended, fresh from their success at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Kluge, the designer behind Kirstenbosch’s 2019 exhibition titled ‘Mountains of Abundance’, and his team earned SANBI Kirstenbosch’s 37th gold medal in as many years.

With both Sello Hatang CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and Beryl Ferguson, the SANBI Board chairperson, also in attendance, the rose launch was an uplifting celebration of the very best of South Africa, past, present and future.

Sowing for Gold Award-winning landscapes.


The recent South African Landscapers Institute awards evening held at the Mount Grace Country House & Spa Magaliesburg proved to be particularly fruitful for Keith Kirsten Horticulture International.

KKHI was recognised with a number of awards for their work at the stunning Lourensford Wine Estate near Somerset West. KKHI won not only the prestigious Bristlecone Nursery Floating Trophy but also a Gold Award of Excellence for Landscape Construction with In-House Design and a Trophy Award of Excellence for the Most Innovative and Original Use of Plant Material.

Keith dedicated these awards – which also took note of KKHI’s commitment to water-wise landscaping – to the landscape gardeners who designed and created Lourensford Wine Estate’s grounds, and the Lourensford team who will be maintaining them.

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