Motorists and beachgoers along Beach and Coastal roads would have noticed the striking new additions lining the pavements. They’ve quickly become the talk of the town.

The spherical, teal-hued plant pots now dotting the Strand streetscape are turning heads for good reason.

According to Ward 83 councillor Carl Punt, who provided ward allocation funding of R160 000 for the project, the aim was to create something truly distinctive. “We wanted plant pots that provided both colour and greenery,” he explains.

The design draws its inspiration from the ocean – fittingly so, given the location. The pearl served as the muse for the pot’s unique spherical shape, while a specially selected colour-shifting paint mimics the ever-changing hues of the sea, meaning the same pot can appear to shift between different colours depending on the light.

The result is a small but vibrant touch of civic pride that brings a little more beauty to the coastal town.

Punt adds that the pots were designed in-house by project manager Jo-Ann Lee Bleker of the Strand parks department, making them entirely unique to Strand – conceptualised, designed, manufactured, and painted specifically for this project.

The plant chosen to fill them is the Carissa, an indigenous species well-suited to coastal conditions. It bears fragrant white flowers and produces edible red berries, and its naturally thorny stems may serve a practical purpose too, acting as a quiet deterrent against vandalism. Ongoing maintenance will be a collaborative effort between the Strand parks department, the Strand CID, and local business owners.

Punt adds that the pots have been purpose-built to withstand the area’s harsh coastal conditions, with the opening positioned on the side rather than the top – a deliberate design choice that helps shield the plant from the elements.

Punt confirmed that a total of 20 plant pots have been installed to date – 10 along Coastal Road and 10 along Beach Road – with the possibility of a few more being added along the latter, subject to budget availability.

Elaborating on the placement, he says it was deliberate. Positioned along the entrance route from Coastal Road through to Beach Road, the pots guide visitors toward the beachfront while enhancing the look and feel of the area. “This is part of the broader vision to beautify the entrance and the CBD,” Punt explains, an ambition shared by both himself and the Ward 83 Committee. “We are proud of Strand and want to continue improving our community, opening doors for tourism and new businesses alike.”

Encouragingly, the locally produced pots have already begun drawing visitors from neighbouring towns. The beautification initiative forms part of a broader City of Cape Town effort to uplift the area and grow its appeal to tourists – one that includes the new sea wall and public sculptures, as well as the planned upgrade of the informal trading area.