The plant community is fire-adapted, as is chaparral, to burn and then to resprout and recover rapidly from each fire. In fact, the germination of many fynbos seeds seems to be enhanced by treatment with smoke, presumably in response to acids and oxides that are byproducts of combustion. To a large extent, South Africa's reputation for having a wide variety of native plants arises from the amazing diversity and beauty of these three groups of dominant groups. Within Proteaceae occur the amazing and huge inflorescences of Protea , often used by florists as the centerpieces of very expensive floral arrangements. There are more than 300 species of Proteaceae endemic to the Cape Province.
Ericas have beautiful tubular to urn-shaped flowers .
Because the soils of South Africa are special in composition and also nutrient-poor, most of the fynbos species are difficult to grow in Southern California without highly altered soil preparations. Garden volunteers are now attempting to germinate and grow a wide variety of fynbos species to plant in the Mediterranean Section. Although South Africa may not appear to have played a major role in the history of California, as a prime source for many prized plant species, it certainly has had a major impact on horticulture.