The Best of... Flora

Star Attractions

• The King Protea
• The Red Disa
• The Crane Flower (Strelitzia)
• Giant Cycads
• Yellowwood Forest Giants

Overview

South Africa is home to more than 24 000 plant species, nearly 10% of the earth's flowering plants. The South-Western Cape, one of the world's six floral kingdoms, has 8,600 species alone. The country may be divided broadly into six ecological regions, each with its own distinctive vegetation.

Floral Kingdom

The Cape Floral Kingdom is renowned for its fynbos (fine-leaved bush) which includes many beautiful species of protea, erica (heather) as well as pelargoniums, irises and the country's most famous orchid, the red disa.

The National Botanic Garden at Kirstenbosch is the best place to see fynbos in its natural habitat. (See National Botanical Gardens, Cape Town)

Namaqualand

North of the winter rainfall area in the Western Cape is Namaqualand, a huge expanse of arid land studded with mesembryanthemums (vygies), daisies, dwarf shrubs and the occasional quiver tree (kokerboom). After early spring rains, the region is a blaze of brilliant colours, to the delight of thousands of visitors. Skilpad Wildflower Reserve, near Kamieskroon, is the best place to savour the spectacle - (See Northern Cape, Namaqualand, National Botanical Gardens)

Semi-desert

East of Namaqualand and stretching to the Free State is the semi-desert of the Great and Little Karoo, covered in small shrubs, succulents and, in some parts, red aloe bushes. The Karoo National Botanical Garden, Worcester is a good place to study these plants. (See National Botanical Gardens)

Bushveld

Large parts of South Africa's interior is savannah (or bushveld), covered in tall grasses and low, thorny bushes and trees, especially the omnipresent acacia. To the north, larger trees such as the marula, mopane and the distinctive baobab may be found. The Pretoria National Botanical Garden has many fine examples of the plant life of the region. (See National Botanical Gardens)

Forests

Temperate forest is confined to the high rainfall area of the Garden Route, around Knysna and Tsitsikamma, where rare hardwoods such as yellowwood and stinkwood thrive, and mountainous areas to the north, particularly along the slopes of the Drakensberg escarpment. Some of the largest and rarest species of cycad may be found in the Modjaji Nature Reserve in Limpopo.

Subtropical region

Further east, running from the Wild Coast to the Mozambique border is the subtropical coastal belt, where milkwoods, mangroves, palms, wild bananas and other tropical vegetation may be found. The Botanical Gardens, Durban are a good place to experience the lush plant life of the region. - (See National Botanical Gardens)

Visit the Botanical Gardens

South Africa's rich and varied flora may best and most conveniently be seen in the country's eight National Botanical Gardens and other botanical gardens in the main cities.

For a full list, see National Botanical Gardens.

Links to Useful Sites

National Botanical Institute - www.nbi.co.za
Botanical Society of South Africa - www.botsocsa.org.za