Plants from down under – Protea

Name - The genus Protea was named in 1735 after the Greek god Proteus who could change his form at will, because proteas have such a widely varied appearance. The Protea has been a highly controversial national symbol in South Africa, both during and after apartheid –because it is supposed to be the symbol of the post-apartheid Springbok sporting team, but the idea has never really caught on.

Description - Ranging in stature from tiny shrubs just inches from the ground to trees of twenty-five feet or more, the larger of these plants make a stunning focal point. The leaves range from oval to needle-like and are often leathery, continuing to make it difficult to identify the genus. What all Proteas have in common is that their flowers are borne in cone-like heads with highly coloured leaf-like bracts at the base and are long lived, appearing principally in shades pinks, cream, and red.

Origins - The family to which Proteas belong is divided into two subfamilies, one in southern Africa, and one concentrated in Australia and South America - this indicates the two continents were once linked by a land bridge and the species have hardly changed since they separated from each other. All these plants, regardless of native origin, need an open, sunny, well-ventilated position and a climate that experiences most rainfall in winter and their roots in a gravel or sandy loam that is very free-draining and generally acid. They will tolerate light frosts, but may die after heavy rain in poorly drained soil – mixing gravel into their planting area can help, or ideally, grow them in a pot which can be moved around to give the plant the sun it needs without leaving it at risk of water-logging. Raising them seed is the best way to get them to naturalise in the UK because imported plants don’t always flower after the first year.

For Decoration - the plants make excellent cut flowers and are popular in dried arrangements too.

Australian protea photograph by soltenviva, used under a creative commons attribution licence

 

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