Zizipho Zungu traded the boardroom for the flower fields of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, proving that it’s never too late to cultivate your passion.
“What began as a personal expression of love has grown into a vision to cultivate flowers that allow one to experience the joy of giving in its most natural, beautiful form,” Zungu says.
Born in the Eastern Cape, she says her name, Zizipho, which means “gifts from the Lord”, has shaped how she sees the world.
“I’ve come to realise that my love language is not in giving in a material sense alone, but in the thought, care, and intention behind giving something that brings joy to someone else. Zungu Maison Flower Farm was born in that place. There is something deeply fulfilling about creating a moment that makes another person feel valued and loved.”
Zungu brings a strong background in finance, having held senior finance positions across various companies. She is also a devoted wife and mother to five beautiful children.
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With a deep appreciation for beauty and creativity, she identified an opportunity to venture into flower farming on their family farm in the Midlands, which has allowed her to pursue her passion while building a thriving business.
Sowing seeds of love
Founded in 2025, The Zungu Maison Flower Farm is already making a notable impact. The business supplies fresh flowers to various markets across KwaZulu-Natal and caters to bespoke orders, creating and delivering carefully curated bouquets tailored to each client’s needs.
“My journey into floriculture wasn’t just about flowers, Zungu Maison is an extension of who I am, a celebration of beauty, generosity, love and the quiet joy that comes from giving. Flowers, to me, are more than just products; they communicate true emotions. They mark life’s most meaningful moments, both big and small.”
Any form of farming involves the not-so-glamorous work of digging, planting seeds, endless watering and a lot more.
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Zungu tells Food For Mzansi that the journey started with the preparation and cultivation of the land, to sowing the first seeds. “Sowing the first seeds required a kind of quiet faith, trusting in a process that offers no immediate reward. Those early days were defined by patience.”
They currently grow hydrangeas, lisianthus, sunflowers, antirrhinums, delphiniums, and on a thorough trial, roses.
From harvesting to beautiful bouquets
A typical day at the flower farm begins very early. Zungu describes it as a beautiful sense of calmness that helps her kickstart the day.
“I usually start by walking through the fields, checking on the crops and observing their growth and condition. It’s important to understand what each crop needs and give each the attention it needs, be it water or nutrients.
“From there, we move to harvesting, carefully selecting stems that are ready, cutting at the right stage to ensure quality and longevity. Once harvesting is done, they are sorted, hydrated, and prepared to maintain their freshness for client collection, delivery or making special bouquets.”
Being a modern farmer comes with a lot of challenges, and for Zungu, these range from water management, scheduling and feeding the crops correctly.
“Scheduling is a constant discipline; flowers don’t always grow exactly when you need them to, yet the market expects consistency. Learning how to plan planting cycles, stagger crops, and align production with the demand has been a process of both experience and adjustment.
“What has helped me navigate these challenges is staying hands-on and being willing to learn continuously. This includes skills development conferences and courses in floriculture.”
Finding balance and blooming
Being a creative with a financial background has helped Zungu find balance between the creative side of floristry, running a business and the agricultural demands of running a farm.
“I naturally sit between both worlds. I’m a creative person at heart, I have an eye for beauty, and I’m drawn to things that feel unique, elegant and intentional. At the same time, I come from a finance background, so I’m equally driven by structure and performance. I understand the importance of numbers, sustainability, and ultimately seeing a strong bottom line. That side of me ensures that the creativity is supported by a solid business foundation.”
Zungu says there are opportunities within floriculture and modern farming, especially in this season.
“We are seeing a growing market and an increasing demand for locally grown, high-quality flowers, which creates space for new farmers to enter and contribute meaningfully.”
Her advice to aspiring flower farmers, especially women, is to start with clarity and purpose. Understand why you want to step into floriculture. They must be willing to start small and learn the process. Take time to understand their crops, their environment, and the discipline that comes with it.
“As women, it’s important to trust your ability to lead, to build, and to grow something meaningful. There is strength in being hands-on and present in your work. Most importantly, remain patient with yourself. Growth takes time, and not every season will look the same. Stay committed, keep learning, and trust that what you are building will come together.”
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