In Operation Wildflower we have space for the citizen who has only the political power of one vote to do something about protecting what he or she loves in nature. You can join us to participate in a legally and sensibly established collection treasure hunt for plants you wish to take home, love and cultivate with care in your own garden. Thus you save them from development destruction! (Now isn’t that a nice and appropriate little oxymoron for our times, don’t you think?)
House boats on Amsterdam canals sporting South African aloes, succulents and geraniums in pots on deck? Yes, there are Dutch citizens with gardens of only half a dozen potted plants living on the water in stationary boats, some of their treasured plants recognized as expatriates from our sunny veldt! And walk along the streets of this and other Dutch cities to see on floor level window sills inside many apartments potted plants soaking up the little sun that comes their way.
The Global Village literature, so full of economic wisdom, says little about the global and regional relationships of plant species in nature. We know about migrating birds and about cross-border national parks where animals may roam a little wider. But plant seeds have also been migrating without human intervention for many millions of years. The distribution areas for some plant species with above average wanderlust have widened greatly along natural distribution channels, with no respect for passport control! Some of these ancient plant migration routes have been cut off by development caused by humanity. Others have been lost due to natural climate changes, continental drift or maybe by some natural phenomenon even more surprising!
There was a big storm in November 2009 on the Gauteng Highveld. Suburban floods usually bring news of traffic disasters and home damage. Calamities caused by big rain and wind in the more rustic, outlying and farming areas are often local news only, although such events are sometimes quite spectacular in their impact and destruction. Here is a story of a huge tree aloe that has adorned a garden for more than twenty years, falling down one stormy night.
Where do garden flowers come from? They were all growing in the wild once, or their ancestors did! Someone started planting them close to a house; or maybe even by a cave entrance? Apart from planting for food, people learnt very long ago to plant trees for shade, hedges for protection and so many plants for medicine against real and imagined diseases.
Fields and verges are in season clustered with white, pink and deep mauve cosmos flowers that lift the soul, regardless of where they come from! The origins of some of these plants is a story in itself.
The Operation Wildflower website began with the intention of establishing an interactive collection of "Plant Records". These fact sheets would contain propagation tips, identification guides and photographic images.
As the website evolved, and visitor responses and behaviour was tracked, it transpired that there was greater interest in the photographic records with short, less formal notations.
We have decided to retain the original Plant Records for reference (and inspiration!).
If you are inclined to add to these records, you are most welcome. Please email contributions with citations and photographs to
We look forward to growing this source of information in an organic and open manner.
Browse Plant Records in the following Categories -
Plant something that grows and you have changed the world! Gardeners would enjoy such a statement, for everyone likes the ego stroked and hopes for significance of personal existence. But is the change one makes in the world always an improvement? A simple question with a complex answer! If, for instance, your garden interferes with the continued natural vegetation around you, the consequences may well become far-reaching and quite possibly negative.
Who started it all: this contagious preoccupation with growing, studying and loving funny little green things with leaves? The green things grow very big sometimes as we know. So did the fraternity of plant enthusiasts, their knowledge and range of activities in this country so blessed with diversity in its vegetation. But who made the first notable move in this direction?