Protea Growing Australia

The name protea commonly refers not only to plants in the genus protea but also to plants in two other genera from south africa leucadendron and leucospermum.

Protea growing australia. The family proteaceae was one of the earliest groups of flowering plants dispersing and diversifying throughout gondwana before the break up of the supercontinent. For example protea compactais a beautiful dense growing plant. They need very good drainage because they can be prone to root rot. Proteas put on a gorgeous display in gardens mainly through the late winter and spring months.

Proteas are grown for the local export and interstate markets. The most common proteas belong to the genera protea leucadendron and leucospermum pincushion and serruria blushing bride. Climate and soils are suited to proteas and plantings are centred around perth and busselton. They are tough and hardy evergreen plants will thrive in exposed positions with poor soils and are also both heat and cold tolerant from 6 to 40.

If your soil s not naturally well drained you can. Many protea species are cultivated for cut flowers and while they are marketed as wildflowers in australia it should be noted that they are not native to australia. Protea production in western australia began in the mid 1980s and peaked in the mid 1990s. It s often assumed that proteas and their relatives are australian natives but they in fact hail from south africa.

Proteas are attractive shrubs originating from south africa which can be cultivated commercially in western australia. There are many proteasand leucadendronsavailable some are low growing and others form sizable screen plants which are great as a hedge. However they are closely related to some of our showiest plants such as banksias grevilleas and waratahs.