Protea flower belongs to the proteaceae family and this flower has a lot of different varieties inside of its family. These varieties come in almost all shapes, sizes and colors. Among the oldest families of flowers on earth, dating back 300 million years, Greek legend tells us that protea were named after Proteus, the son of Poseidon. A sea god who had the power to know all things past, present and future, Proteus was defiant and preferred to nap on the island of Pharos rather than prophesize. To deter those seeking his insights, he would change his shape at will, and it’s said that the protea flower was named after him because it, too, presents itself in an astounding variety of shapes, sizes, hues and textures to make up more than 1,400 varieties.
Proteas are effulgent flowers that challenge and delight even experienced gardeners. They have countless variations of splendid color and form, and they grace garden plots with their lasting, perennial beauty. They’re also low care, make great cut flowers, are bird attracting .
Lots of choice
Proteas have over 1,400 species. The protea flowers are tubular flowers and can be either yellow, pink, red, white, cream, and orange. Some Popular Types of Protea are; Possum Magic ,Raspberry Frost ,Red Gym (Leucadendron),Rose Mink (Protea laurifolia),Special Pink Ice (Protea neriifolia x susannae),King Protea (Protea cynaroides),King White,King Pink,Bird’s Nest (Banksia baxteri)Susara (Protea susannae x Magnifica)Pincushion Protea (Leucospermum cordifolium) etc.
Also read about: Floriography the language of flowers
Interesting Facts
- These types of flowers are often pollinated by bats, birds, and even small marsupial mammals, so they are very important in many ecosystems.
- They are also known for thriving in difficult and warmer climates where many other types of flowers would probably die.
- The proteas have a condition called sclerophylly which makes their leaves really thick and hard, thus they are able to survive these hard types of climates.
- Another important characteristic is the shape of their roots, but because they are clumped into one another, they allow water to be absorbed even better.
Enjoy the Beauty
Proteas are glorious and unique flowers. While they take some time and effort to start, they are hardy once established and create beautiful blossoms for many years to come. Enjoy this new addition to your garden!
