Seeds of four indigenous plant species were sown in 1990 in small‐scale field trials in an arid, non‐seasonal rainfall region of the southern Karoo, South Africa. Seeds of a winter annualTetragonia echinata(Aizoaceae) showed innate dormancy but those of three perennial shrubsPteronia empetrifolia, P. pollensandOsteospermum sinuatum(all Asteraceae) emerged only after the first substantial autumn rain. In good rangeland, seedling growth and survival was better in clearings than in undisturbed vegetation. In poor, continuously‐grazed rangeland, sheep had more influence on growth and survival ofO. sinuatumseedlings than did vegetation clearing. These findings should be tested by means of large‐scale trials replicated in time and space.