Hello 2026!
January is here and the garden is buzzing with fresh beginnings!
As we step into a brand new year, and celebrate 85 years since Ferndale Nurseries first opened its gates, we’d like to say a huge thank you to all our wonderful customers for your support throughout the years. Your love for plants has helped us grow for generations.
We can’t wait to welcome you back in 2026 and wish you a year filled with happy gardens, healthy plants, plenty of green joy, and many happy visits ahead.
85 Years of Growing with the Cape
Ferndale Nurseries proudly marks its 85th anniversary this year, celebrating a legacy of growth, community, and dedication to quality.
Ferndale has been a cornerstone of Horticultural excellence, providing generations of gardeners, landscapers, and plant enthusiasts with exceptional plants, expert advice, and friendly service.
Over the decades, Ferndale Nurseries has evolved from a small nursery into a trusted name in the gardening community. We’ve seen gardening trends come and go, from cottage gardens to modern landscapes, but one thing has never changed, our commitment to quality plants, expert advice, and friendly service.
Generations of gardeners have walked our paths, from grandparents to grandchildren, all sharing the same love for getting their hands a little dirty.
As we celebrate 85 years in 2026, we’re incredibly grateful to our Loyal Customers, Dedicated Staff, and the wonderful Community that has grown with us over these years.
Fun Ferndale Facts
- When the land that is now known as Ferndale Nurseries was first bought, Constantia looked very different, no tar roads, just dusty tracks shared by bicycles, a few cars, and the clip-clop of horses and donkeys getting people from A to B.
- Before Ferndale Nurseries ever existed, Mr Eric Tichart (our beloved Mr T) was delivering letters, not plants, starting out as a postman before helping plant the roots of something truly special with his wife.
- Mrs Barbara Tichart (Mrs T) began her growing journey in the most humble way, nurturing plants in old jam tins and selling them at the Grand Parade market. Proof that big dreams can start very small.
- Mrs T also had a wonderful creative flair, making beautiful cut-flower arrangements that were sold at the nursery, adding colour, joy, and a personal touch to all her customers homes.
- Some of Ferndale’s earliest income streams came from supplying and caring for potted plants and creating beautiful flower displays for large corporate clients. this would entail maintaining, replacing, and caring for them long before “office greenery” became a trend.
- We’ve been growing plants longer than many of today’s houses and gardens in Constantia have existed, and we’re still growing strong.
- Many of our customers aren’t just customers anymore, they’re second- and third-generation Ferndale shoppers that are friends and family to us, returning with stories, memories, and families of their own.
- Every season has helped shape who we are, from droughts and downpours to heatwaves and glorious blooms and of course not forgetting COVID, but still we’ve grown through it all.
- And finally, Ferndale wouldn’t be Ferndale without its People. Our past and present team are a huge part of why the nursery feels less like a business and more like family.
The Potting Shed-Where Pedro Works His Magic!
Our Potting Shed has quickly become a firm favourite. As shown on the step-by-step poster to the right, the process is simple, enjoyable, & led by the best.
At the heart of it all is Pedro, our go to potting & plant specialist and a much loved member of the Ferndale family for 31 years this year.
This is where he truly shines, creating beautifully balanced pots & hanging baskets with skill, creativity, care, and a huge amount of plant knowledge.
Pedro joined Ferndale Nurseries at just 19 years of age, after 3 years of Horticulture studies he arrived at the nursery enquiring about a job with CV in hand. A brief chat & one simple question from Errol — “Do you know about plants?” — to which Pedro answered “Yes I think So!” he was told, “Right, you start on Monday.” 30 Years on, Errol’s instinct couldn’t have been more spot on
Today, Pedro still loves what he does. He says “No 2 days are the same“, he values his work family & long-standing customer relationships, and as he says,“I’m still learning every day.”
The Potting Shed brings all his experience together, creating personalised displays planted to suit the season.
Here’s To Honouring Our Roots
Pictured below are the two remarkable people who planted the very first seeds of Ferndale Nurseries — Mr Eric Tichart, fondly known as Mr T, and Mrs Barbara Tichart, lovingly known as Mrs T.
Ferndale Nurseries exists because they were brave enough to take a chance, embrace the risks of starting something new, and for believing in a dream that has grown for generations. Their hard work, determination, and love for plants, people and quality has shaped Ferndale Nurseries into the special place it is today.
Mr T was known and loved by so many for his cheeky little chirps, warm presence, and of course the sweets he handed out from his wooden shed at the entrance, a small gesture that left big smiles and lasting memories for many, young and old.
Mrs T’s quiet strength and support were just as vital in building the heart of Ferndale.
As we celebrate this milestone, we honour their legacy with deep gratitude and pride, and we look forward to many more years of growing together and carrying their vision forward for generations to come.
A 3rd Generation Story
Many of you know Paul, and you’ll know his passion for plants runs deep. A 3rd generation Ferndale family member, Paul grew up with the nursery as his playground, helping out on weekends and school holidays, pushing trolley’s, packing plants, and selling alongside his Uncles at the Grand Parade, where Ferndale Nurseries journey began.
After studying Horticulture and running a successful landscaping business for many years, when the timing and opportunity aligned, it was clear where Paul’s heart belonged. Ferndale had always been part of him, and stepping into the family business felt like a natural path. Carrying forward his grandparents legacy alongside Errol was something he was deeply proud to do and continues to do.
His love for Ferndale shines through in everything he has achieved so far, and in the care, commitment, and vision he brings to Ferndale Nurseries as it grows into the future.
Paul officially joined Ferndale in 2014 as the 3rd generation in the family to join the business. He is now one of the co-owners and Managing Director. While he wears many hats, his greatest passion is growing the business while preserving the personal relationships that makes Ferndale feel like family for both customers and staff.
Ferndale on the Map 2001
Back in 2001, Ferndale officially made the map, quite literally! We were featured on the Summer Valley Guide, created for visitors exploring the Constantia area. The map highlighted all the must-visit spots of the time, and many of us will fondly remember leafing through it. Some of those places are still around today, others have become happy memories, but there we were, proudly marked as a stop worth visiting. Proof that even then, Ferndale was already firmly rooted in Constantia’s story.
