Growing up on a farm with names like “plakkie”, “bokhorinkies”, doll’s rose, “kalkoentjie” and “koekemakranka”, tickled my love and interest in these endemic plants. These wildflowers are unique and diverse and grow in areas with wet winters and hot, dry summers. The Western Cape is famous for its beautiful wildflowers, occurring from Vanrhynsdorp all along the coast of the Cape Peninsula and eastwards to Port Elizabeth. They are characterised by an enormous diversity of species from plant families like Rutaceae (buchu), Proteaceae (Proteas), Asteraceae (Felicias), and Iridaceae (Gladiolus).
These plant families fall within the Fynbos Biome of the Cape Floristic Region, and is the richest plant region on earth. The Fynbos Biome can be broken down into four categories.
- Fynbos
- Renosterveld
- Strandveld
- Succulent Karoo
Fynbos
Fynbos occurs typically in the mountains and grows in nutrient-poor and sandy soil. Fynbos prefers acidic soil. Proteas, Ericas, Restios are part of the proper Cape fynbos plant growth. Fynbos is normally hard leafed, dense growth and with trees virtually absent.
Fire is a critical part of the plant’s life cycle. It rejuvenates old and overgrown vegetation, and some plant species only grow and flower after a fire. In addition, the smoke during a fire is a driver of fynbos seed germination.
Table Mountain is an excellent example of lush fynbos growth.
Renosterveld
The name Renosterveld is derived from “renoster” referring to the Black renoster historically in the Western Cape. Shrubs dominate Renosterveld from the Asteraceae (daisy) family and the lovely geophytic (bulbs) plant species and beautiful annuals. It occurs on relatively fertile soil, and Restios, Proteas and Ericas are mainly absent.
Like with fynbos, fire is also an essential part of Renosterveld and its conservation.
Overberg and Darling are known for their Renosterveld reserves.
Strandveld
The sandy soil that is nutrient-rich all along the drier west coast and wetter south coast is known as Strandveld. Plant growth has many succulent elements on the west coast and forest plant growth on the south coast. Proteas are absent.
Velddrif at the west coast is an excellent example of Strandveld.
Succulent Karoo
Succulent karoo occupies low-lying land, mainly from Namaqualand to southern Namibia, covering about 7% of South Africa. The Winters have deficient rainfall and extreme summer heat. As a result, fog near the coast is common, and some plant species rely on it for survival. Soil is sandy and poor.
Low growing succulents like Crassula, Cotyledon, Euphorbia and Drosanthemum, with a wide variety of annuals, are common in the succulent karoo. These annuals are one of the reasons why Namaqualand is renowned for its spring wildflower displays.
South Africa is famous for the beauty of its native flowers, but many of these plants are declining or threatened. The general public needs to realise how necessary it is to preserve our wildflowers in their natural surroundings. The Cape Floristic Region is proudly South African and is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its rich and diverse flora.
The gardener who displays South African plants in his garden can pride himself on preserving his countries beauties for all to see.
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