Roggeveld Plateau

The Bokkeveld Plateau is an area in the Northern Cape. It harbours possibly the highest densities of geophytes (bulbous plants) in the world, and hence is referred to by the locals as The Bulb Capital of the World.  These bulbs occur mainly in the mountain renosterveld, to a lesser degree in the succulent karoo vegetation, and least of all in the mountain fynbos. Around the town of Nieuwoudtville heavy grazing in the renosterveld suppresses the growth of perennials leading to spring displays of annuals and bulbs. Most of the rainfall occurs in winter and spring with peak flowering varying considerably from year to year, but typically between August and September. In March the autumn flowering hysteranthus (flowers appear when the leaves are dormant) Amaryllidaceae put on a spectacular display.