Cactus pioneer:
In 1965 Marthinus Malherbe, whose remains and those of his wife Molly are buried in the main garden, bought this farm. Malherbe was one of the pioneers of the cactus trade in Southern Africa. In 1910 he got his first cactus seeds in from the Americas . The oldest cactus of SA can still be found in one of the Soekershof gardens.

In 1954 Malherbe became a professional nurseryman and started the cactus nursery SHEILAM (named after his 7 children) next door. Almost all large succulents at the entrance and in the garden around the house of this nursery are propagated and planted by Malherbe (see photo).

In 1965, 80 years old, he decided to retire and sold the nursery to the present owning family which moved a few years later.

Media exposure:
In the beginning of December 2003 Soekershof became ‘more commonly known’ for the project was seemingly regarded as a ‘threat for the national security of the USA ’ . It took ‘Big Brother's’ intelligence-organisations almost a year to discover that ‘Little Brother was watching Big Brother watching Little Brother’, etc. etc. It became global news with media coverage in most of the countries (except The Netherlands and Belgium !!!)

December 5, 2003
The Washington Times


"The CIA went on ‘red alert’ earlier this year when a U.S. spy satellite spotted a suspicious site the near Robertson in the Western Cape, South Africa. The suspect installation appeared to be a defense complex... The spooks finally concluded that they were not looking at a covert defence complex, but rather, the Klaas Voogds garden maze of Soekershof".

April 2006
The Professional Gardener, UK


"Soekershof is a unique establishment, consisting of mazes and botanical gardens... Apart from the immense collection of succulents outdoors, the sheer enthusiasm of the owners and their gardeners make this another place not to miss...".

May 2006
Itchy Feet, UK


"...the most beautiful and diverse succulent garden in the Southern Hemisphere..."

March 2008
Weekend Argus, SA


"... Never before had I seen these hostile plants so creatively laid out. Far from unattractive, the plant collection was full of colour and life..."
 
  "Confronted with the vision of a beautiful garden, we see something beautiful about ourselves" - Jeff Cox

In Soekershof's gardens there are more than 2400 different registered species and varieties of succulents, cacti included - all in the unprotected open air. More than 900 of these succulents originate from Southern Africa. The total area covered by all the gardens is 11,000 m2, excluding nursery.

The gardens

  • The original Garden "Maart's Paradise" (1910)
  • The main Malherbe Garden (1965)
  • Philosophers Garden (Garden of Wisdom) (2002)
  • Classical French design succulent garden (2008)
  • Caudiciform Garden (2007 - 2008)
  • Rocking the World (2007 – 2010)
  • ‘Little Texas’ (2004)
  • Dam (2005)
  • The Botterboom Trail (2001)
  • Herman's Eden (trial & error garden; 2003)
In the planning phase or ‘under construction’ are a Japanese, English and Italian garden.

  
  The latest additions are the Caudiciform garden (in front of the Visitors Centre); Rocking the World at the entrance and the classical French garden with succulents which is designed and created by Eulalie Baudet (University of Blois, France).

‘Maart's Paradise’, featuring the oldest cactus of South Africa (anno 1910), is the responsibility of gardener Maart Geduld. Opposite this garden is the ‘1965 Garden’. This is the main garden that was (together with Maart's Paradise) neglected for 24 years before the present owners started the extensive restoration works. In 1971 this garden was reviewed as "the most beautiful succulent garden in the Southern Hemisphere" by the Royal Horticultural Society (UK).

Nowadays this garden is again ‘the pride’ of Soekershof.

  
  During the interactive tour in the garden (duration approx. 1 – 1.5 hrs) visitors can expect a brief introduction of succulent plants plus explanation about some focal plants including ‘hidden gems’ and other rare succulent plants.

Creating and maintaining a garden is a long and caring process. Work continues into eternity. There is no such a thing as an "instant garden".

"Where flowers bloom so does hope" - Lady Bird Johnson


  
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