Protea

Indigenous; 1 - 5m
Planting position: Full sun. North-facing, warm spot (cooler areas), open sloping spot (warmer areas). Frost-protection while young. Areas with moderate frost only.
Requires regular watering during winter, if in summer rainfall regions. Regular watering during dry spells. Slightly acidic, well-draining sandy-loam soil. Mulching of area, excluding fresh manure mulching. Removing dead flower heads. Watch out for root rot.
Propagate from cuttings or seed sown apart, and planted out one year later.

P. caffra (4m) with large shading greyish leaves and crimson summer flowers. Ideal for summer rainfall areas and tolerates drought once established.
P. compacta (3m)
with long, pointy buds and pink flowers from autumn to spring.
P. eximea (3m) free-flowering in spring with 10cm open, dark pink flower heads.
P. lacticolor (2,5m) Tolerates drought and has creamy florets encircled by pink bracts.
P. longifolia (1m) spring flowering with yellow-green bracts surrounding black- tipped, creamy florets. Low growing with long, slim leaves.
P. magnifica (1,5m) the slow growing, bearded Protea has large flowers, ranging in colours from dark pink, light pink and cream and black tipped flower hairs. These 20cm across flowers appear from winter to spring.
P. nana (1m) with graceful drooping flowers in spring that are rose-like and chocolate coloured. The foliage of this evergreen is needle-like.
P. neriifolia (3m) striking with creamy pink autumn flowers tipped in black.
P. repens (3m) with nectar-covered, cup-shaped autumn flowers. The red, pink or white flower bracts contrasts well against the silvery foliage.
P. speciosa (1m) with white hairy, large pink flowers that are brown tipped in summer.