About Us
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Our first small step was to plant 50 daylily plants way back in 1996. Today that small beginning has flourished and literally bloomed to almost 50 000 plants representing more than 500 varieties. The daylily bug bit me immediately and I was hooked for life from the start..."And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin, yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these."(Matt6:28-29)
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American daylilies were initially imported via Australia to circumvent the weak exchange rate. As a result, the daylily varieties were relatively old with a limited gene pool when they finally reached South Africa. At present, new varieties are imported directly from the U.S.A. Some registered plants are therefore available in South Africa within one year of their release in the U.S.A. However, the amount of varieties are limited and obviously quite pricey.
The so-called "eyezone" flowers were a rarity not too long ago. I still remember my own excitement when my very own "Moonlit Masquerade" bloomed for the first time. Today a very large variety of colours and flowers with eyezones are available. We also find that flower edges show much more ruffling and the flowers themselves are bigger, wider and with more substance.
Zambesi Daylily Gardens occupies 2.2 hectares. It has been open to the public for the last two years and plants are sold on a wholesale and retail basis. We also provide plants to nurseries and exterior- and garden designers.
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We started our own hybridising program using pollen from only the latest and best tetraploid plants for pollination. The first seedlings were introduced to the public in 2005. They were extremely popular and found new homes very quickly! At the moment we are cultivating approximately 10 000 seedlings every season!
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Zambesi Daylily Gardens is open to the public 7 days a week from 9:00am - 4:00pm. The most impressive blooming period is from October to January. There is a lovely guesthouse on the premises and anyone that visits the gardens is welcome to stay at the guesthouse at a reduced tariff!
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Each year for 4 days in late March, we exhibit at the Gardenex Exhibition at the Dome, Northgate, Johannesburg. You are warmly invited to visit us at our stand at the exhibition!
Our newsletter is a periodic source for news on future releases, special promotions and useful hints and tips. Your are more than welcome to provide us with your name and e-mail address if you are interested in receiving the newsletter. Please feel free to contact us with any other inquiries you might have (see "Contact Us" page for contact details).
Chris, Elna and Jacques Viviers 2006
