Company's Garden, Cape Town: what to see and when to go

Company's Garden is a public park in central Cape Town, South Africa, first planted in the 1650s by European settlers. Originally a vegetable garden for ships and the settlement, it now features lawns, flower beds, historic trees, a rose garden, memorials, and museums, and is a national heritage site.

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Founded in 1652 as a vegetable garden for ships and settlers
Home to South Africa’s oldest cultivated pear tree
Features a rose garden, herb garden, and memorials
Hosts the annual Cape Town Festival
Located next to major museums and Parliament

What is Company's Garden?

Company's Garden is a large public park in the heart of Cape Town’s city centre. Visitors find lawns, flower beds, a rose garden, and a herb and succulent garden, along with historic trees and a fish pond. The park also has an aviary, benches, memorials, and statues. Local arts and crafts are sold along the main avenue, and wild birds and squirrels are common sights. The garden is home to the oldest cultivated pear tree in South Africa and is bordered by museums and important public buildings.

The history of Company's Garden

The garden was started by the Dutch East India Company in 1652 to supply fresh produce to ships and the Cape settlement. Hendrik Boom, the first gardener, began sowing seeds in April 1652. Early crops included European and Indian vegetables and herbs. Over time, the garden expanded and became self-sustaining. By the late 17th century, it was known for its variety of plants and was admired by visitors from around the world. In the late 1600s, Simon van der Stel redesigned it for beauty as well as utility. The garden’s botanical collections were documented and some were sent to Europe.

What there is to see

The garden covers 3.2 hectares and is watered by the Molteno Dam, which uses water from springs on Table Mountain. It is maintained by the City of Cape Town. The park includes a rose garden built in 1929, a herb and succulent garden, and a fish pond. Lawns and flower beds are laid out for public enjoyment, and the grounds are open year-round. The garden also contains memorials, an aviary, and historic statues.

This media shows a South African Protected Site with SAHRA file reference 9/2/018/0149 .. Photo: KNewman1, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

When to go

Company's Garden is open to the public all year and is used for recreation, walking, and relaxation. It hosts the annual Cape Town Festival and is a stop on city walking tours. The park is a place for locals and tourists to enjoy nature, see historic trees, and visit nearby museums and monuments. It is also a venue for arts and crafts markets and community events.

Parts and collections

The garden includes several distinct areas: a rose garden, a herb and succulent garden, the Delville Wood Memorial Garden, and a fish pond. It is also known for its historic trees, especially the oldest cultivated pear tree in South Africa. The garden’s design has changed over centuries, shifting from a productive vegetable garden to a landscaped public park.

Why Company's Garden matters

Company's Garden is South Africa’s oldest garden and a national heritage site. It has been admired by writers and visitors since the 17th century for its diversity of plants. The Delville Wood Memorial Garden commemorates South African soldiers from World War I. The garden is surrounded by important cultural and historical buildings, including museums, the Parliament, and St George’s Cathedral.

Questions people ask about Company's Garden

Where is Company's Garden located?

Company's Garden is in the central business district of Cape Town, South Africa, surrounded by museums, Parliament, and other historic sites.

What is the history of Company's Garden?

It was established in 1652 by the Dutch East India Company to grow vegetables for the Cape settlement and passing ships. Over time, it became a public park and heritage site.

What can visitors see and do in the garden?

Visitors can walk among lawns, flower beds, a rose garden, and historic trees, see memorials, feed squirrels, visit museums, and enjoy arts and crafts markets.

Is there a special time to visit Company's Garden?

The garden is open all year. The Cape Town Festival, held annually, is a notable event that takes place in the park.

What is the cultural significance of Company's Garden?

It is South Africa’s oldest garden, a national heritage site, and has long been admired for its botanical variety and historic value.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Company's Garden", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Shalimar Bagh: ANSAR AHMAD, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Yadavindra Gardens: Giridhar Appaji Nag Y, CC BY 2.0, source

Chashme Shahi: Amitraina at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source

Harold Porter National Botanical Garden: Abu Shawka, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden: I created this image. JMK ( talk ) 20:11, 22 June 2011 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Johannesburg Botanical Garden: NJR ZA, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden: JMK, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Alhambra: Jebulon, CC0, source

Company's Garden