Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden, University of Pretoria

Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden, University of Pretoria Covering 3.5 hectares of the University of Pretoria's Hatfield west campus, the MvdS BG is part of the Department of Plant and Soil Science.

A botanic garden is a collection of living plants that is scientifically managed for the purposes of education, research, conservation and community service. The Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden currently has about 3 000 plant species that cover approximately 3.5 hectares of the University's Hatfield campus. The primary aim of the garden is to raise awareness of southern Africa's indigenous

flora through the dissemination and acquisition of botanical knowledge. This includes the provision of plant material for education and research purposes, the collection and propagation of rare and endangered species, as well as research into indigenous plant species with horticultural potential. The Garden had its beginnings as far back as 1924 when Pavetta species were planted on the campus for research purposes. The real impetus came in the 1930s with Berend Elbrecht, a man with passion and enthusiasm for the southern African flora that lives on in the many large trees and cycad specimens that were planted during his time at the University. In 1986 the garden was named after Manie van der Schijff to honor the contributions that he made towards the development of the Garden. The Garden is run by a Garden Committee which is responsible for formulating and implementing policy.

Last night was that first, magical, night cool enough in Pretoria to colour up the Aloe 'Peri Peri' flowers, and they ar...
17/04/2026

Last night was that first, magical, night cool enough in Pretoria to colour up the Aloe 'Peri Peri' flowers, and they are on fire in the overcast!

Alpinia galagal, Siam ginger, in full bloom in the Giving Garden.
24/03/2026

Alpinia galagal, Siam ginger, in full bloom in the Giving Garden.

The "hundred petal" double sacred lotus are in full bloom in the Rainwater Garden around the Mining Engineering Study Ce...
21/01/2026

The "hundred petal" double sacred lotus are in full bloom in the Rainwater Garden around the Mining Engineering Study Centre.

A project of which we are extremely proud, we were deeply involved in its development from the very beginning, and we co...
05/12/2025

A project of which we are extremely proud, we were deeply involved in its development from the very beginning, and we continue to be part of its good works.

Variegation in waterlilies is very rare indeed. Leaf detail of Nymphaea x 'Arc en Ciel', a heirloom variety in the Monet...
04/11/2025

Variegation in waterlilies is very rare indeed. Leaf detail of Nymphaea x 'Arc en Ciel', a heirloom variety in the Monet collection housed in Prof Manie's pond. There were at least 50 blooms of various colours on the pond today. Come and visit, it's right next to the Old Botany building.

24/10/2025
Something a little different: the white Jacaranda in Herbert Baker str. Groenkloof are utterly amazing. There are about ...
15/10/2025

Something a little different: the white Jacaranda in Herbert Baker str. Groenkloof are utterly amazing. There are about a dozen big specimens of this rare, grafted mutation of the common purple species (which is utterly spectacular in and around Pretoria at the moment) planted along this street. As showy in their own right, with a white carpet of fallen blooms just below.

Perutile onion flower at Future Africa. This little perennial onion has been a great surprise. Grown widely in Zimbabwe,...
12/10/2025

Perutile onion flower at Future Africa. This little perennial onion has been a great surprise. Grown widely in Zimbabwe, it took us years to flower them (they seldom do), allowing us to finally identify them as true onions, but an evergreen, heavily suckering type recorded from Medieval times. Perutile essentially means endlessly useful, or eveready for harvest.

Jacaranda photographed from the Plant Sciences buildings roof on Thursday afternoon. Peak display in Hatfield and surrou...
11/10/2025

Jacaranda photographed from the Plant Sciences buildings roof on Thursday afternoon. Peak display in Hatfield and surrounds will be next week I suspect.

Hidden away next to the helipad is a very rare, tropical African flowering tree. Our Fernandoa magnifica is in full, glo...
11/09/2025

Hidden away next to the helipad is a very rare, tropical African flowering tree. Our Fernandoa magnifica is in full, glorious bloom. This tree is in the same family as Jacaranda, and certainly seems to enjoy the Pretoria climate as it is only twelve years old.

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University Of Pretoria, Hatfield Campus
Pretoria
0028

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