I think I read that some of these fire flowers can be flowered in the garden if they are fertilized. It could be the minerals in the ashes that triggers flowering. I think it could also be the reduction of competition and clear skies overhead - but then, I live in a place that doesn't have much clear sky, so a fire here that kills trees makes a big difference in the amount of light reaching the ground. That might not be the case in South Africa. -- Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada maritime zone 8 cool mediterranean climate (dry summer, rainy winter - 68 cm annually) sandy soil