TOP 30 CAPE DUTCH GARDENS
Indigenous landscape architecture South Africa
View our 15 year collection of the best landscape designs for Cape Dutch gardens in the Western Cape. Read commentry about the top indigenous plants selections for the seasons experienced in Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Somerset West and Cape Town, and see photos of their effects on real gardens.NO 1. VAN DER STEL MANOR
Cape Dutch Style guest house in Stellenbosch
This garden takes number one place because of it's year on year success at producing stunning rose blossoms. Actually an exotic plant, the rose has become the mainstay of many a Cape Dutch garden. The recent Cape Dutch gable at Van der Stel Manor is as authentic as one from 300 years ago. The well designed hard landscape elements of low werf walls, water features and pots, compliment beautifully the softening elements of the hedges and roses. This design, together with the stunning setting and thatched Cape Dutch style house, should elevate this from a guest house to a tourist attraction.
NO 2. BABYLONSTOREN
ORGANIC GARDENS NEAR PAARL
The original farmhouse has been expanded by a Modern Cape Dutch House and surrounding organic gardens. Educating the public on best practive vegetable gardening, as well as stunning use of indigenous flowering plants, this is a must visit for garden enthusiasts in the Cape.NO 3. RUSTENBERG WINE FARM
Historical House and gardens in Stellenbosch
Truly one of the best kept secrets in the Cape, this stunning garden has a 300 year old history, and is immaculately kept to this day. The water features with fountains and neoclassical style pergodas are laid out in a sophistaced architectural design.
THE MANOR HOUSE
The neoclassical style gabled house rests peacefully behind expansive lawns and in front of Simonsberg Mountain.
THE NEOCLASSICAL STYLE PERGOLA
During spring, the new laeves on the trees and vibrany vines, make this an exhuberant picture perfect garden.
FLOWERING PLANTS
A wide diversity of flowering indigenous plants makes this an exemplary Cape Dutch garden.
TOPIARY AND HEDGES
This bench looks so inviting as the symmetrical design of the topiary around it creates a sense of importance for this place of repose.
DECORATIVE VINES
The way that the architectural arch in the garden wall is seen through the space created by the pergola - all softened by decorative vines and ivy - creates a very special space.
NO 4. VERGELEGEN
NATIONAL MONUMENT IN SOMERSET WEST
Understandably attaining the NO 1, position in many lists of Cape Town gardens, this huge garden has formal architectural elements as well as many free style garden areas as well as orchards. It is these constrasts in the scenes and the way that the visitor experience the change from one to the next, that creates the magical garden experience we all long to see.See also architectcapetown an interesting style of architecture in unique to the Cape, known as the "Cape Vernacular Style".
EXOTIC AND INDIGENOUS BLEND
The cypress type conifers and bogain villas are not strictly indigenous vegatation but add welcome interesting colours and shapes that are equally as hardy as their indigenous counterparts.
THE HEXAGONAL GARDEN
Another view of the Historical Manor house across the lawns, hedges and flowers of the Hexagonal walled garden. The purple flowers are agapathus, a hardy indigenous plant that flowers in the middle of summer.
THE CAMPHOR TREES
The camphor trees have been declared national monutments in and of themselves. These seven huge trees have massive gnarled trunks. You are not supposed to climb on them but this little girl did no harm.
BOGAIN VILLAS
Again, the bogain villas are exotic plants, but many Cape Dutch gardens are blessed by the splash of colour that these plants provide during the hot summmer months.
NO 5. BOSCHENDAL
A NATIONAL TREASURE
The gardens at Boschendal are ideal for picnics and weddings. A stunning white pergola has been built amidst immaculate lawns, a pine forest and breathtaking views of Simonsberg.
A BRAND NEW DAY
The early mornings in spring at Boschendal have an almost heavenly quality about them.
THE MANOR HOUSE
This historical manor house has been declared a National Monument and is one of the few Cape Dutch houses to be open to the public as a museum. The drought resistent "veggie" ground cover is a common way to add a splash of colour to a Cape garden, that can withstand the hot dry summer months.
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To view more stunning Cape Dutch gardens in the Cape Town area. Seen here, a bogain villa adds colour to the gardens at Vergelegen Wine Farm.
