Protea

About the Protea

Named after the Greek god Proteus, who could change shape - reflecting their enormous variety of forms. They are among the oldest flowering plants, dating back 300 million years. The national flower of South Africa. King protea (P. cynaroides) has flower heads up to 30 cm across. Their roots are extremely efficient at extracting nutrients from poor, acidic soils. They are adapted to survive wildfires - some species need fire to trigger seed release. Over 1,600 species in the family. They are commercially valuable in the cut flower trade. They thrive with minimal water.