South Africa has been classified into various vegetation types or veld types. The following has been recognised as part of the Cape Floral Kingdom: The Mountain Fynbos, Coastal fynbos, Strandveld, and Coastal rhenosterbosveld

THE MOUNTAIN FYNBOS

This veld type is found from Nieuwoudtville and Vanrhynsdorp south along the main mountain ranges to Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula and then eastwards on the mountains to near Grahamstown. The vegetation is characterised by ericoids (heather), restoids (reeds) and proteoid shrubs like proteas and conebushes.

Trees are scarce in this veld type. Those that do occur are often endemic. The Clanwilliam cedar is found only in the Cedarberg. The silver tree, of the protea family, grows only in the Peninsula and Stellenbosch. Other trees include the wild olive and mountain cypress, fan aloes and bitter aloes.

Groups of trees usually grow along river courses. These include the Breede River yellowwood, the myrtle tree, the fountain bush, the water blossom pea, wild almond, Cape holly and Cape willow.

A considerable number of broad-leaved shrubs occur. The wagon tree, the tree pincushion and sugarbush are good examples.

Among the shrubs, the Leucadendron spissifolium and Erica coccinea usually sprout after a fire. Smaller shrubs are the bottle-brushes, everlastings and blushing brides. Among the dwarf shrubs are the indigo bushes and the dwarf and ground proteas. The ground proteas bear their flowers on the ground, while the dwarf proteas are among the prettiest of the proteas. The snow protea in found only on certain high peaks of the Cedarberg.

Mountain fynbos is also characterised by grasses and reeds. Amongst these the fynbos reeds (Restio and Elegia) are undoubtedly the prettiest. Mountain fynbos also has a wide variety of bulb, rhizome and corm plants, watsonias, wild irises, and disas are prime examples.

COASTAL FYNBOS

Coastal fynbos is found along the western and southern coastlines of the Cape Province from sea-level to about 150m above sea-level, where the soil is usually alkaline to sour. There are two types:
Coastal fynbos of the West Coast sands, from the Cape Flats to Redelinghuys on the West Coast, and Coastal fynbos of the south coast limestone, from Danger Point to Mossel Bay.

The West Coast sand type has abundant heathers and lower restios, such as gonna and blombos (Metalasia spp.). Proteas, such as the dune yellowbush and Bredasdorp protea are predominant in the coastal fynbos. More grasses and annuals occur than in fynbos. Although trees are scarce, the white milkwood and low bushes such as the candlewood occurs. Regular fires, overgrazing and the establishment of coastal resorts have caused heavy damage to the coastal fynbos.

THE STRANDVELD

The Strandveld veld type is found mainly on the lower parts of the western coastal plains and could be regarded as a transitional stage between coastal fynbos and Karooveld. Some patches may be found on the southern coast as far as close to Port Elizabeth.

Sandy plains, dunes and limestone and granite ridges form the habitat of the Strandveld biome. This area has exceptionally beautiful spring flowers, which attract many tourists. Erica's are often present, as well as the waxberry (used for making candles in the past), blombos and gonna.

The vegetation is somewhat sparser along the West Coast. Shrubs such as the blue kuni-bush, false spike-thorn, butter-tree and succulents (e.g. the milkbush) and vygies are found here.

COASTAL RHENOSTERBOSVELD

This veld type is found on the lowlands along the coast on shale and granite, from sea level to 400 m above. As a veld type, it is rich in a wide variety of species and dominated by the rhenosterbush and the characteristic wealth of spring flowers.

In the Stellenbosch area proteoids, heather and the wild clove are reasonably plentiful. In the Riversdale area, heathers and proteas seem to be absent. The bitter aloe and a number of grasses and flower species are present. Usually there are few or no trees. Wheat fields have largely replaced this veld type.

The following veld types are found adjoining the fynbos areas:
Knysna Forest (e.g.Knysna/Tsitsikamma),
Valley bushveld (e.g. the Uitenhage area),
Spekboomveld (from Calitzdorp to Graaff-Reinet),
Karroid broken veld (Little Karoo and Robertson Karoo),
Succulent Karoo (the Namaqualand coast at Vanrhynsdorp and Steytlerville area) and Dohne sourveld of the Eastern Cape.