National Treasures

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Indigenous and fynbos

National Treasures

In South Africa we are blessed with 360 species of proteas that grow effortlessly in the wild, which explains why we may have forgotten just how exceptional these plants are. The protea family is, in fact, over 140 million years old and is thought to have co-existed with the dinosaurs.

In recent years proteas have found their way into wedding bouquets and flower shops as the beauty of these flowers has been recognised anew. The good news is that they are also available at our four branches in Bellville, Kenilworth, Milnerton and Constantia.

Here are a few tips on how to care for them :

  • Proteas need well draining soil to flourish. If you have heavy, clay soil in your garden you’ll need to mix in plenty of well decomposed compost before planting.
  • Make sure you plant your proteas in full sun as they need plenty of sunlight to produce good foliage and flowers.
  • Water proteas well after planting and about 2-3 times a week while the plants are establishing themselves. They prefer to be watered at root level, as water on their foliage can make them susceptible to fungal diseases. Once they are established (after about a year or two) they will only need to be watered once a week during very hot and dry weather.
  • Mulch the soil around your proteas with bark, leaves or straw to keep the soil cool and to discourage the growth of weeds.
  • It’s best not to fertilise proteas at all. They are well adapted to growing in very poor soils and certain fertilisers can cause them real damage.
  • Proteas make beautiful cut flowers. Remove the leaves from the section of the stem that will be immersed in water and remember to replace the water in the vase daily as they are very thirsty drinkers. Add one tablespoon of bleach to every litre of water that you use in the vase to keep the water clean.