Competitive chrysanthemum growing is a pastime enjoyed by communities across the Western Cape. Those who participate are serious competitors, but at the end of the day it is not just about winning but upholding a century-old tradition.
The National Chrysanthemum Society of South Africa (NCSSA) was founded in 2003, according to Richard Williams, treasurer of the NCSSA. Though the club initially only had members from the Western Cape, they hoped that other provinces would also participate in competitive chrysanthemum growing, he says. PHOTO: Joel Ontong
From Stellenbosch to Wellington, Worcester to Ceres, Pniel to Kuilsrivier: chrysanthemum growing is a pastime enjoyed in numerous Western Cape communities.
This is according to Richard Williams, treasurer and co-founder of the National Chrysanthemum Society of South Africa (NCSSA).
These towns have societies dedicated to growing the best chrysanthemums, which are then displayed at annual flower shows and judged according to certain criteria, says Williams.
Chrysanthemum-growing societies are a tradition in the Western Cape with more than 100 years of history. This is according to Michael Le Cordeur, vice-dean of learning and teaching at Stellenbosch University’s education faculty and vice-chairperson of the Wellington Horticultural Society (WHS).
The WHS “specialise in the planting and growing of chrysanthemum flowers”, says Le Cordeur.
Richard Williams is one of the founders and treasurer of The National Chrysanthemum Society of South Africa, he says. He is also the secretary and show-secretary of the Pniel Horticultural and Industrial Society. A show-secretary organises the flower shows. PHOTO: Joel Ontong
History of chrysanthemum societies
The WHS is the first chrysanthemum society in South Africa, founded in 1916, according to Le Cordeur. “We survived the flu epidemic in 1918, the first world war, the second world war, Apartheid, we survived Covid, and we’re still existing,” he says.
Since the WHS’s inception, chrysanthemum and similar horticultural societies were started across the Western Cape, according to Williams. In 2003, the societies came together in Pniel to form the NCSSA, says Williams. The NCSSA’s purpose is to ensure consistent judging criteria across all societies, he says.
Williams is also the secretary of the Pniel Horticultural and Industrial Society (PHIS), founded in 1981, he says. In tandem with chrysanthemum growing competitions some societies also hold competitions for baking, knitting, embroidery and flower arrangements – which is what ‘industrial’ refers to, according to Williams.
However, ‘industrial’ activities have severely waned in popularity, according to Cheryl-Ann Winnifred, a member of PHIS who competed in baking competitions. PHIS does not hold ‘industrial’ competitions anymore, says Winnifred. “It’s actually something sad. When you think back on all the previous years,” she says.
Expenses, bad sportsmanship and a lack of interest from the younger generations are some of the contributing factors to the death of ‘industrial’ competitions, she claims. “I miss it actually,” she says.
Before the National Chrysanthemum Society of South Africa was founded, different chrysanthemum societies in the Western Cape had different rules and criteria for judging flowers, says Richard Williams, treasurer of the National Chrysanthemum Society of South Africa. The national society ensured consistency across different societies, he says. AUDIO: Joel Ontong
Growers and showers
Chrysanthemums are displayed at flower show competitions, which are usually held in the first week of May, according to Williams. The NCSSA flower show is usually held in Pniel, he adds.
These competitions have different categories for the different types of chrysanthemums, according to Williams.
“Our men are very competitive. When the men put their flowers down then it looks like they won’t talk to each other. They are focused,” he says. “The men don’t make jokes. They are quite serious.”
The growers are also honest with each other and will tell their competitors when their flowers are not up to standard, shares Williams.
Michael Le Cordeur is the vice-dean of learning and teaching at Stellenbosch University’s education faculty and vice-chairperson of the Wellington Horticultural Society, he says. This society is the first chrysanthemum society founded in South Africa, he says. His parents have been part of this society for more than 60 years, Le Cordeur shares. Chrysanthemum growing is “an art that gets passed down from generation to generation”, he adds. PHOTO: Supplied/Michael Le Cordeur
In ways like these, the growers help each other improve their craft, says Bernard Mentoor, who is part of PHIS and has been dubbed ‘the king of chrysanthemums’ by some growers. “We always help each other,” he says. Therefore, a good grower should be open to listening to other growers and be willing to learn, according to Mentoor.
The flower shows are always underpinned by good sportsmanship and camaraderie, says Le Cordeur. They create an opportunity to bring a community together and it is that togetherness that keeps a society like the WHS going, he says. “A society will not survive 106 years if there is not good camaraderie between the men.”
The Chrysanthemum flower originates from China and was originally used for herbal tea, says Richard Williams, treasurer of the National Chrysanthemum Society of South Africa. There are different species and cultivars of chrysanthemums, according to Williams. “In most cases [for growing] we used the old English cultivars. These days with the men bringing in new flowers, we use Japanese cultivars and Chinese cultivars,” he says. PHOTOS: Supplied/Richard Williams
Experience is key
Chrysanthemum growers are serious about their craft because they are usually very experienced and knowledgeable, says Williams.
To grow a prize-winning chrysanthemum requires knowing how to mix soil with the correct ratio of minerals and when to add or subtract certain minerals, says Mentoor. Growers must also be keenly aware of the weather and its effects on the flower, he adds.
A mark of a good chrysanthemum flower is its size, according to Mentoor. “We try our best to get [the chrysanthemum] big,” he says.
Mentoor has won numerous flower shows and speaks from 57 years of experience, he says. However, he was not always the ‘king of chrysanthemums’, he says. To earn the title, he had to learn from his mistakes.
“In the beginning, I wasn’t very good. I started from the bottom. The first eight years I didn’t win any prizes at the shows,” Mentoor shares. “Then a friend taught me some things and told me, ‘If I grew like you do, I would have given up a long time ago.’ But I told him, for me it’s about the love [for chrysanthemums].”
In the early stages of growing chrysanthemums, the plant requires adequate heat, until it blooms, then it requires more cool conditions, says Richard Williams, treasurer of the National Chrysanthemum Society of South Africa. PHOTO: Joel Ontong
After learning from his mistakes and building up enough experience, Mentoor went on to win numerous shows, he says. “You have to be determined,” he adds.
Le Cordeur has also won a few flower shows, he says. For him, being a good grower requires passion and patience, he shares. “You must have a love for nature, you must have a love for flowers and you must have a passion for working with your hands in the ground,” he says.
With chrysanthemum growing, patience is important, because “the chrysanthemum takes exactly as long as a human to develop, that is nine months”, says Le Cordeur.
“[The flower] is just like a baby. You must care for it, look after it, feed him with healthy food. And you must keep him clean,” he continues. Furthermore, chrysanthemums need to be regularly monitored and kept safe from natural enemies, which include various insects, he says.
Though individual chrysanthemum societies have their own local events in their communities, the annual flower show hosted by The National Chrysanthemum Society of South Africa is held in Pniel. PHOTO: Joel Ontong
A deep satisfaction
Chrysanthemum growing is not just about winning prizes, it is also about the sheer enjoyment of growing a beautiful flower and sustaining a piece of heritage, according to Williams. “You can’t make money from this because it’s more about spending money. It’s a hobby,” he says.
However, winning can feel great, according to Le Cordeur. “Yes, I have won. But I have lost more than I have won. And that is why you need to have a passion,” he says. “Because when you lose, you tend to want to give up. But if you have a love for it, then you will do it again next year.”
“And then if you win. The feeling of winning is indescribable. I can’t explain to you the feeling you experience. You feel so good, and so glad and happy. It is a deep satisfaction,” Le Cordeur says. The expression of one’s success may not be as obvious as with other sports, he adds. “It is an internal, deep feeling of joy.”
A selected and condensed history of chrysanthemum societies in the Wellington and Stellenbosch area. Wellington founded the first chrysanthemum society in South Africa, according to Michael Le Cordeur, vice-chairperson of the Wellington Horticultural Society. GRAPHIC: Joel Ontong