Botanically Serruria florida was officially discovered by Carl Thunberg in the Fransch Hoek Mountains in 1773. It then disappeared from the scientific annals for over 100 years, and it appears that botanists of the day generally accepted that it was extinct. Its rediscovery in 1914 can probably be credited to Professor Harold Pearson (Director of the then one-year old Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens) and seeds were collected for future plants to be grown at Kirstenbosch from where distributed seed helped to establish commercial cultivation in SA and internationally.

The 'Blushing Bride' popular name is interesting too. Historically it is reputed that local area farmers would approach their hearts' desires with a S. florida flower in their lapels when about to ask for their hands in marriage. Apart from the obvious inference of the flower's colour, the "blush" derives from the fact that the suitor's intention was apparent to all who met him, much to the embarrassment of his bride to be. The deeper the pink colour the more serious the intentions of the suitor. What is sobering though is that this flower was then possibly pursued on a non-sustainable basis because of its romantic associations.

Knowledge of the ecology of the Blushing Bride summarises attitudes of the conservation authorities towards fire. During the 1930's the number of known plants were found to be declining. A bush fire in 1943 destroyed the only known wild population. Three years later sixty plants were flourishing at the site. Yet the decline in numbers which occurred as the vegetation grew older was attributed to frequent fires and consequently the area was rigorously protected. In 1962 not a single plant remained in the original area. An accidental fire which later swept the area resulted in massive germination and soon there were lots of plants in the colony. This lesson, that Fynbos plant species must have fire and that seed banks must be considered when estimating plant numbers, has now become established botanical thinking.

Members found the colonies which were in fair condition, and after the hot hike most came back looking like Serruria florida itself. The return was quieter than the outward trip too .....very humbling to think that out of the whole world, the species is only found naturally in a few colonies spread out over a couple of kilometres.