Joburg’s autumn blooms — the surprising war story behind cosmos
Joburg’s autumn blooms — the surprising war story behind cosmos
Joburg’s autumn blooms — the surprising war story behind cosmos
Gary Oberholzer
Joburg’s autumn blooms — the surprising war story behind cosmos
Every autumn, Johannesburg transforms. Open fields, roadside verges and railway edges are suddenly washed in soft pinks and whites as cosmos flowers bloom in their thousands — a fleeting but familiar sign that the seasons are shifting on the Highveld.
They arrive without warning. No planting, no planning — just a quiet, annual return that feels as though it’s always been part of the city’s identity.
But the truth is, these delicate flowers don’t belong here.
Cosmos, scientifically known as Cosmos bipinnatus, are originally from Central and South America. Yet they’ve become so woven into the South African landscape that many assume they’re indigenous. Their ability to thrive in dry, nutrient-poor soil makes them perfectly suited to Gauteng’s autumn conditions — which is why they continue to spread so effortlessly, year after year.
Their real story, however, is far more unexpected — and deeply tied to South Africa’s past.
That’s exactly what Al Prodgers explores for HOT 1027 News, tracing how these flowers found their way to Joburg in the first place.
🎧 Take a listen below to uncover the surprising history behind Joburg’s cosmos…
Their roots trace back to the Second Boer War, when imported supplies unknowingly carried the seeds across the country. As those supplies moved inland, the seeds scattered — taking hold along transport routes that still shape where cosmos grow today.
More than a century later, they continue to bloom along highways, railway lines and open land — following the same paths carved out during that time.
There’s even a touch of folklore woven into their arrival. Some believe an abundance of white cosmos signals a colder winter ahead, while deeper pink blooms hint at milder months to come.
Whether legend or coincidence, one thing is certain: these flowers have become part of Joburg’s seasonal identity — a soft, enduring reminder that nature adapts… and remembers.
References
- South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI): https://www.sanbi.org
- South African History Online – Second Boer War: https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/south-african-war-1899-1902
- PlantZAfrica – Cosmos bipinnatus: https://pza.sanbi.org/cosmos-bipinnatus
- Encyclopaedia Britannica – Anglo-Boer War: https://www.britannica.com/event/South-African-War
- JSTOR Daily – How cosmos spread in South Africa: https://daily.jstor.org
