FLORA

​

The fynbos (pronounced fay-in-bos) of the Western Cape is a type of heathland or scrubland only found in this region and is one of the most botanically diverse regions on earth often referred to as ‘ the tiniest floral kingdom in the world’

​

9000 plant species

​

Contains 3% of the world plant species and 20% of Africa’s plant species

​

The highest concentration of plant species at 1300 species per 10,000 Km2

​

More than 6000 species endemic to South Africa

​

1700 of the fynbos species are threatened with extinction

​

The origins of many garden plants such as gladioli, geraniums, aloes, nerines, agapanthus, ixia and freesias

​

South Africa’s national flower – the King Protea is a fynbos species

​

Fascinating at all times of year but even more so in August to November (the Cape spring) when many of the species flower.

​

Fynbos is under constant threat from invasive exotic species such as wattle, acacia and eucalyptus which poison the soil, deny light and generally ‘crowd to death’ the indigenous species.

​

WILDLIFE

  • Facebook Social Icon