The Hilton Daisy is named after Hilton Village, which is named after the school. So this really is a flower that the school can call its own. And this flower is in danger.

Hilton Daisies grow only in certain parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, and occur nowhere else on earth. Nowhere else!

They grow on iron-rich red soils in high-rainfall areas called mist-belt grasslands, from Richmond to Barberton. These Mist-belt areas area very good for growing timber for pulp and paper manufacture , so most Hilton Daisy populations have been wiped out because people use too much paper. Think about that.

About a hundred years ago, when boys got from Hilton Village to the school by wagon, there were many Hilton Daisies growing on the school estate. They have disappeared for various reasons. Some people have tried digging them up to grow them in their gardens, but this almost always kills the plants – they grow best in their natural habitat.

The plants in the wild garden are clones – they have all grown from one original plant rescued from World’s view when a gum plantation was being established there in about 1971.

There are about 12 known viable populations of Hilton Daisy left in the world.

Together with the ‘Maritzburg Botanical Garden, the Hilton conservation department is working on a plan for reintroducing Hilton Daisies to the school. We will find some plants growing nearby, pollinate them, and collect the seed, then plant this on the estate.

Hopefully the next few years will see this magnificent plant back on the school grounds in its natural home.