Plant diversity in South Africa

Plant and animal life around the world is incredibly diverse. In fact, many of the species that exist are yet to be discovered, and of those that we have discovered and documented, there are many variations,each unique in its own way, specialized to fit within its own environment. South Africa’s natural landscape is one of the most famously diverse in the world, with spectacular indigenous and alien plant species alike making the landscape look picturesque, bringing in tourists year-round.

The southwestern area of South Africa is the home of the fynbos ("fine bush"), which is composed of ericas, proteas and the grass-like restios. The Proteas (Proteaceae), a family of blossoming flower which includes the King protea, South Africa’s national flower, and others of broadly similar shape, the pincushion-likeleucospermum, and spiky leucadendrons.The Ericaceae, the largest genus of flowering plants in South Africa are more delicate than the rest that belong to this family. The diversity of species found in this family, as well as the incredibly wide range of colours and blossoming habits, means that at any one time of the year, at least one of these species will be in bloom.

 

Among these highly regarded indigenous species, one can find the incredible range of South Africa’s close to 500 species of wild orchids, which typically grow in mountainous ranges, as well as a number of species of irises, lilies and pelagoniums that have found their way around the world, and can now be found in gardens and parks alike throughout the globe.