List of exotic trees, shrubs, plants, bulbs; garden flower, forest, and other seeds

imported lately from Germany (Wurtemberg and Hamburg), Holland, &c. by the Danish Ship Norden, Capt. Burd, and the Ionia, Capt. C. Buck

Abstract

This comprehensive catalogue, compiled by Dr. C. F. H. Von Ludwig, documents the importation of a wide range of exotic trees, shrubs, plants, bulbs, and seeds into the Cape Colony during the early nineteenth century. Shipped from Germany (Württemberg and Hamburg), Holland, and other European centres aboard the Danish vessels Norden and Ionia, the collection represents one of the earliest systematic efforts to enrich South Africa’s botanical diversity through the introduction of foreign species.

The inventory lists hundreds of specimens, including ornamental and forest trees, flowering plants, fruit-bearing varieties, and garden vegetables, all meticulously recorded by their Latin and English names. Notably, the collection features numerous European species, such as maples, oaks, limes, lilacs, tulips, and hyacinths, alongside valuable agricultural and medicinal plants. It also records the introduction of the Cactus Opuntia with cochineal insects from Hamburg, marking an early attempt to cultivate the cochineal dye industry locally.

Von Ludwig’s compilation illustrates the growing transcontinental exchange of botanical material and scientific knowledge in the colonial period, highlighting his pivotal role in developing the Cape as a site for botanical experimentation and acclimatisation. This document remains a key source for understanding the history of plant introduction and early scientific horticulture in southern Africa.