A LEGO set dedicated to showcasing the beauty of the Cape Floral Kingdom? It sounds like a dream, but thanks to local designer and lifelong LEGO enthusiast Christoff van Wyk, it’s one step closer to reality. Christoff has poured his love of South Africa’s fynbos and his brick‑building expertise into a vibrant submission on LEGO Ideas, and now he needs our help to bring this miniature botanical wonderland to life.
Christoff’s passion for South Africa’s botanical splendour began in his hometown of Riversdale, where he was surrounded by the beautiful Langeberg Mountains and their rich flora and fauna. Being surrounded by the rich biodiversity found in Riversdale ultimately stuck with Christoff and played a crucial role in inspiring this LEGO set. Today, he channels that childhood wonder into carefully crafted LEGO bricks, each chosen to evoke the colours, and forms of our native flora.
Iconic blooms, brick by brick
His design captures several signature fynbos species all clustered onto one larger base. The five most iconic species represented are:
- King Protea (Protea cynaroides): South Africa’s national flower, famed for its massive, artichoke‑like flower heads ranging from creamy white to deep crimson and can grow to measure up to 30 cm across.
- Lantern Heath (Erica blenna var. grandiflora): A tall, elegant shrub bearing a handful of sticky, urn‑shaped blooms in vivid orange with green tips.
- Gousblom/Crane’s-bill Geranium (Geranium multisectum): A loose mound of silvery‑blue foliage topped by delicate mauve flowers all summer long.
- Green Tree Pincushion (Leucospermum conocarpodendron subsp. viridum): A stately, tree‑like pincushion covered in butter‑yellow blooms from August to December.
- Chincherinchee (Ornithogalum thyrsoides): A bulbous plant beloved for its long-lasting white star-shaped blooms with dark centres. Known locally as “tjenkenrientjee” and often used in cut flower arrangements, it thrives in the sandy soils of the Western Cape.
A celebration of biodiversity
Christoff hopes that this beautiful LEGO design will become an ambassador for the Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest yet richest of the world’s six floral kingdoms. Covering about 90,000 km² – less than 0.5 percent of Africa’s landmass – it shelters nearly 3 percent of the world’s plant species and 20 percent of Africa’s.
Bringing fynbos to the world, one vote at a time
To be formally considered by LEGO, Christoff’s design must earn 10,000 supporters on LEGO Ideas. Here’s how you can help:
- Vote for “Fynbos Flowers by Christoff van Wyk” on Lego Ideas
- Share the link with your family and friends – every vote and share brings this design closer to becoming a reality.
- Leave a comment of encouragement on the Ideas page; projects with active discussions often gain momentum faster.
Once the 10,000‑vote milestone is reached, LEGO’s expert reviewers will evaluate the project for release. From there, Christoff could collaborate directly with LEGO’s design team to fine‑tune the set for production, earning a spot among the select few official fan‑designed kits.
Let’s rally behind this tribute to our fynbos heritage! Cast your vote, spread the word, and help Christoff share the astonishing beauty of the Cape Floral Kingdom with LEGO fans and nature lovers around the globe.
