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The vegetation along the west coast of South Africa is known for the floral displays by ephemerals during good winter rain seasons. Previous studies found that livestock will preferentially consume ephemerals over perennials when available and concluded that the presence of ephemerals allows for perennial forage plants to rest and set seed, regardless of grazing taking place during the growing season. Do these conclusions stand up to scrutiny ? A seasonal grazing trial in which paddocks were grazed for three monthly periods, was conducted at the Nortier Research Farm on the west coast of South Africa from September 1989 – September 1995. In this region, rainfall occurs primarily in the winter months of May through to August. The percentage canopy cover of the perennial plant species and ephemerals were determined every year at the start, June, and end, September, of the winter-grazing season. Autumn rain determine d the percentage cover of ephemeral plants by June. When both autumn and winter were dry, both ephemeral and perennial plant cover decreased during the winter grazing season. In wet winters, when ephemerals are in abundance, the perennial plant cover increased toward the end of the grazing season. When ephemerals were abundant in winter, it allowed for perennial plants to regrow despite grazing. Farmers should take autumn rainfall into account in their fodder flow planning for the coming winter months. Dry autumn months resulted in fewer ephemerals being present, which resulted in livestock utilizing a greater amount of the perennial plants. As a result, they received minimal rest during winter and should receive rest from grazing during spring.