Full Sun
Advanced care
Moderate watering
Tender
H1c
RHS hardiness
5°C
Minimum temperature
Expected size
Height | Spread | |
|---|---|---|
Max | ||
Min |
Flowering
-
spring
-
summer
-
autumn
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winter
This plant has no fragrance
More images of Protea
Protea Overview
The genus Protea contains over 100 evergreen shrubs and trees typically grown for their interestingly arranged, showy blooms which are surrounded by colourful modified leaves called bracts. These may be white, green, pink, purple or yellow and strongly resemble petals, giving the overall appearance of a large complex bloom. Also known as sugarbush, proteas mainly occur in the southwestern Cape in South Africa, with about 70 species endemic to the fynbos. The colourful involucral bracts have made proteas and their hybrids very popular in the cut flower industry and in gardens.
Common problems with Protea
Protea Companion Plants
How to propagate Protea
Seed
Protea seeds are serotinous, meaning the mature seeds are stored in the living plant canopy and are only released when triggered by an environmental stimuli - fire. When the canopy is burnt, the mature seeds are released. The seeds require low temperatures for germination as this coincides with the first wet winter season. The seed coating is soft and splits open as the first root emerges. Seed must be sown in well-draining, sandy soil. Seeds must never sit in waterlogged soil. Dust seeds lightly with a fungicide to avoid seedling infection.
Cuttings
Cuttings can be taken in early summer to mid-autumn to root well before planting out early spring. Select a healthy, disease-free host plant that has not yet flowered. From the host tree, select a firm shoot that has just completed its growth period - either an erect terminal shoot or an upright growing lateral shoot. Shoots can be between 200-250 mm long. Ensure that there are enough leaves with buds remaining on the shoot after removing the basal third of the cutting. Dip the base of the cutting in rooting hormone. Place the cutting in suitable rooting medium. It is beneficial to keep a regular spraying programme to control fungi. Rooting happens between 8 - 16 weeks.
Budding
It can also be grafted or budded.
Grafting
Special features of Protea
Attractive flowers
Attracts bees
Attracts birds
Attracts useful insects
Drought resistant
Other uses of Protea
Grown for their colourful bracted flower heads.
Cut flowers
Proteas are very popular cut flowers and are exported all over the world.
