Pretty Proteas Please
Proteas are very popular all over the world, renowned for their excellent use in the garden and when needed in dried flower arrangements or in the vase. We love them here in Australia. Choose the right Proteas and you'll have flowering plants in any season.
The Proteaceae is a wonderful family of different genus that includes Protea, Leucodendrum, leucospermum, Mimetes, Macadamia (Macadamia nut), plus others.
Distribution across the world is as follows: Australia 800 plus species; Africa Cape 400 species and 330 plus in the South Western Cape; 90 species in Central and South America; plus species in Madagascar, South East Asia, New Guinea, New Caledonia and also New Zealand.
The Protea family (Proteaceae) goes back about ninety million years to the time when all of our landmass was joined together. Now, in our different countries, we have what are distinctive and separate species, after the countries were all part of a great southern continent. As the landmass separated, the protea family evolved to suit each country's habitat. That's why members of the Proteaceae family are found native to so many countries. They have all evolved separately on each continent with no genera or species in common, although the South African and Australia plants often look the same.
Proteas are named after the Greek Sea God, Proteus, who had the power of Prophecy.
FACTS ABOUT PROTEAS
Proteas will grow in the garden or in a container. They're all adaptable, tough, colorful, and will grow in different climate zones. They' are perfect for most Australian conditions if you choose carefully.
A few years ago, when I was designing our garden site for our horticulture group, I had the idea to plant a row of Proteas down a hill along a fence, to create a small windbreak. I chose about 10 different species which were adaptable for a frosty, dry area and they thrived there.
In nature they grow in very poor soils which are lacking nutrients, particularly phosphorus. However they do need an area which is well drained. They will tolerate cool wet winters and dry scorching summers.
Soil drainage is important, so make certain you don't plant in heavy clay soil. Build the soil up to improve it, dig in compost. You can dig in Gypsum if the soil tends to be a bit clay-ey. Most Proteas like a sandy open loamy soil. Some of them need an acidic soil with a Ph below 6; some tolerate neutral to alkaline soils with a Ph above 7.
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