The Protea Family (Proteaceae)
Article by: Geoff Bryant
The protea family (Proteaceae) includes a wide range of ground covers, trees , You Take The Vacation - Not Your Garden and shrubs , Viburnum in the Garden that often make superb garden , Why ing is Better plants. While some of the species are frost-tender, they are in all other respects remarkably resilient plants , Backyard Landscaping Ideas that often thrive in situations where others would rapidly succumb. Poor soils , Creating A Balcony Garden Oasis and hot , Abatement and Confronting Legitimate Issues dry positions that scarcely seem capable of supporting life are often ideal for Proteaceae. If any plants , How To Design And Build A Fish Pond could be said to thrive on neglect the proteas can.
Proteas (the term is often used collectively as well as for the genus itself) are a variable group. Indeed, the family was named after Proteus, a Greek god capable of changing his shape at will. It includes some 60 genera and 1400 species of Southern Hemisphere plants, , Improvements in Robotic Lawn Mowers the bulk of which are native to southern Africa and Australia with the remainder coming from South America and many of the Pacific islands, including two species (Knightia excelsa and Toronia toru) from New Zealand.
There is an enormous variety of foliage among the proteas. It is almost always evergreen, but may be needle-like, as with many grevilleas; long, narrow and serrated like that of Dryandra formosa; or rounded and leathery like the leaves of Protea cynaroides. Some genera, particularly Leucadendron, include species with brightly coloured foliage, the intensity of which varies with the season. , Gardening - Growing Herbs In Containers Leucadendron stems retain their colour , How to Grow Cucumbers for weeks when cut and are an important part of the cut flower , Patio Umbrellas industry.
Protea flowers , 'Sir Cedric Morris' Hardy Geranium are composed of clusters of narrow tubes that are often curved. These 'spider' flowers , Discount Patio Furniture – An Easy Way to Get the Best are seen at their simplest in the two native species and some of the grevilleas. In many cases what appears to be the flower , How to Grow a Pineapple is actually a bract of brightly coloured leaves surrounding the true flowers. , Viburnum in the Garden The most impressive example of this is the dinner plate-sized flower , Backyard Landscaping Ideas head of Protea cynaroides. The flowering season , Backyard Landscaping Ideas also varies; many proteas and grevilleas flower , Daylilies - The Perfect Perennial in winter, , 5 Most Popular Flowers for Your Garden while leucospermums tend to flower , Ten Considerations Before You Buy A Bird House in summer. , The Basics Of Building Your Own Greenhouse With careful selection it is possible to plants , 5 Most Popular Flowers for Your Garden in flower , The Basics Of Building Your Own Greenhouse all year round.
The flowers , Designing Your Garden For Year-Round Beauty often contain large quantities of nectar that many birds , Don't Treat Your Soil Like Dirt relish. Some species have very sticky flowers , A Look at Planting Bulbs that will trap visiting insects, especially bees an this slightly sinister side of the flower , Basil: The King of Herbs appears to serve no particular purpose.
The South African and Australian Proteaceae tend to be at their best in warm, dry conditions and often thrive in coastal areas. Inland, unseasonable early and late frosts often kill all but the hardiest specimens. The South American genera tend to be hardier and prefer somewhat damper conditions. Embothrium in particular, can withstand hard frosts and is grown over most of the country. But where winter , Wildflower Seeds - Ten Reasons Why You Should Plant... temperatures regularly drop to -6°C or lower, most proteas require frost protection.
Cultivation
Other than a suitable climate, , Abatement Consideration and Issues in Rural America the key to success with proteas is establishing the right soil , Why Gardening is Better conditions. The protea family is mainly adapted to mineral based soils , The Basics Of Building Your Own Greenhouse that drain very quickly and which often have low nutrient levels. These soils , Patio Umbrellas tend to be moderately acid and are often especially low in phosphates.
Good drainage is absolutely essential. Rich loams and heavy clays do not make good protea soils. , A Few Gardens Built By The Moghuls If you have a heavy soil , You Take The Vacation - Not Your Garden do not try to improve it by adding sand , Protecting your Garden Pond from Pesky Predators or shingle as this will often make the problem worse; the soil , Viburnum in the Garden binds with the sand , Flowers, An Annual Event and shingle and sets like concrete. , A Look at Planting Flower Bulbs Instead add more humus. Proteas would not appreciate the rapid burst of nutrients from a rich compost , A Look at Planting Flower Bulbs so the humus used should be fairly low in nutrients. Natural , Flowers, An Annual Event leaf mould and rotted pine needles work well. To avoid these materials compacting down into a poor draining thatch, incorporate about 50% fine shingle grit by volume and combine the mix with the existing soil. , A Few Gardens Built By The Moghuls
Most proteaceous plants , How to Grow Cucumbers come from areas with low rainfall or where the rains are strictly seasonal. Many are coastal plants , Step by Step 'Leaf' Stepping Stones although most of the South African genera include alpine or sub-alpine species. Knightia from New Zealand and Embothrium from Chile are exceptions; they usually occur away from the coast, in areas where rainfall is quite high and not seasonal. Nevertheless, they still demand excellent drainage.
Although proteas are remarkably resilient and not difficult to grow , 5 Most Popular Flowers for Your Garden there seems to be some common myths regarding their cultivation. Like most myths these have some basis in fact, but they can be misleading.
Myth 1: feeding proteas will kill them.
That's not strictly true. Proteas need nutrients just like any other plant, , Ten Considerations Before You Buy A Bird House but their are a little more exacting than some. It's not fertiliser that does the damage but high phosphate levels and intense bursts of nutrients that lead to overly rapid growth. Avoid most general garden , Outdoor Sports Lighting fertilisers, fresh animal manures and anything with added superphosphate. Because proteas will tolerate poor soils, , Don't Treat Your Like Dirt it is often easier not to feed them rather than risk damage, but you'll certainly get better results if you apply a slow release, low phosphate fertiliser in late winter , 'Sir Cedric Morris' Hardy Geranium and mid summer. , How To Design And Build A Fish Pond This will keep the plants , Why Should You Own a Greenhouse? growing slowly but steadily; any bolting into growth tends to weaken them.
Myth 2: proteas only grow , Why Gardening is Better near the coast.
Not true. Many proteaceous plants , Backyard Landscaping Ideas come from inland areas. They will tolerate salt breezes but there is no general preference for coastal conditions.
Myth 3: proteas like wind.
That's also not entirely true. Proteaceous plants , Designing Your Flower Garden For Year-Round Beauty do not tolerate wet foliage or high humidity for long periods and in areas prone to these conditions extra ventilation will help reduce the incidence of fungal diseases. , Flowers, An Annual Event However, most proteas have brittle branches that snap or split in strong winds so there's no reason to presume that they prefer windy locations. , Furniture Benches Are Perfect For Every Outdoor Space
Myth 4: proteas need a hot , Creating A Balcony Garden Oasis sunny position.
Yes, most Proteaceae prefer full sun , Basil: The King of Herbs or something near to it. But that doesn't necessarily mean the hottest, most baked position you can find. Although they will survive severe conditions once established, extreme heat , Ticks and drought , Basil: The King of Herbs will cause damage, especially to young plants. , Landscaping Combo Auto Detailing Business? Shade from the hottest sun , Furniture Benches Are Perfect For Every Outdoor Space will prolong the flower , Ten Considerations Before You Buy A Bird House display and, provided the drainage is good, occasional deep watering is also recommended.
Myth 5: proteas are short-lived.
Some are and some aren't. Old plants , A Look at ing Flower Bulbs are normally removed long before the end of their natural , Why Should You Own a Greenhouse? lives because they tend to become rather woody and untidy. You can generally reckon on a useful lifetime of at least 8 years for Leucadendron and Leucospermum, and around 12 years for Protea. However, large species, such as Grevillea robusta and Banksia integrifolia, may continue to be effective garden , Aluminum Sling Patio Furniture. Comfortable Seating for Outdoor Settings plants for several decades.
Planting
Most proteaceous plants , Tips for Choosing a Chiminea for Your Backyard or Patio are sold in containers and are ready to plant , Aluminum Sling Patio Furniture. Comfortable Seating for Outdoor Settings right away. However, the best planting time depends on your climate. , Gardening - Growing Herbs In Containers Autumn , Backyard Landscaping Ideas or winter , Viburnum in the Garden is best in mild areas as this is when moisture , Discount Patio Furniture – An Easy Way to Get the Best requirements are at their lowest, while spring , Gardening with Bamboo is the preferred time if regular frosts are expected as this allows the young plants , Why Should You Own a Greenhouse? to get well established before having to endure winter , Gardening with Bamboo conditions.
Start by digging a hole at least twice the size of the plant's container, this large volume of loose soil , Improvements in Robotic Lawn Mowers will encourage good root , Don't Treat Your Soil Like Dirt development.. Additional drainage material can be added to the hole if necessary, otherwise planting is just a matter of removing the plant , Viburnum in the Garden from its container, loosening any spiralling roots , A Look at Planting Flower Bulbs before placing in the hole, then refilling the hole and firming the plant , How to Reduce Pollution Using a Robotic Lawn Mower into position. Large specimens will require staking to prevent wind damage.
Cut flower , Landscaping 101 use
Many proteaceous plants , The Basics Of Building Your Own Greenhouse make excellent long-lasting cut flowers. , How to Grow Cucumbers Leucadendrons in particular are widely planted solely for the purpose of providing material for floral decorations. Protea, Leucospermum, Banksia and Serruria flowers , Lawn Furniture can all be used to make impressive large arrangements while the less dramatic blooms of Grevillea and Isopogon are better suited to more dainty work.
Some flowers, , Constructing a Garden Path particularly goblet-shaped Protea flowers , Tips for Choosing a Chiminea for Your Backyard or Patio dry well although they do tend to disintegrate rather suddenly after a few months. Other genera such as Banksia and Leucadendron produce seed , Flowers, An Annual Event heads or cones that can be used in dried arrangements.
Pruning
Most proteaceous plants , A Few Gardens Built By The Moghuls need occasional trimming and tidying. This may be to improve their growth habit or to remove old flowers , Lawn Furniture or seed , Why Gardening is Better heads that have become dry and unsightly.
How far to cut back is the usual question. This varies with the genera, although as a rule only light , Lawn Furniture pruning is recommended as there is a general reluctance among proteas to reshoot from bare wood. , Designing Your Flower Garden For Year-Round Beauty Of the common genera Banksia and Grevillea will withstand hard trimming, as will Leucadendron, Telopea and Mimetes, but pruning , Gardening with Bamboo of Dryandra, Leucospermum, Serruria, Paranomus and most Protea species should be restricted to a light , Ticks annual trimming.
The best time to prune , Outdoor Sports Lighting is usually immediately after flowering , Wildflower Seeds - Ten Reasons Why You Should Plant... unless you want to leave a few seed , Flowers, An Annual Event heads to mature for use as dried decorations. In areas where there is the possibility of frost damage, it is advisable to leave pruning autumn , Viburnum in the Garden and winter-flowering plants , Growing Rare Fruits for Fun or Profit until spring. , Abatement Consideration and Issues in Rural America
Container Growing
Some proteaceae can make good container plants, , Gardening - Growing Herbs In Containers but you will have to be careful with your choice of potting mixes and fertilisers. Potting mixes need to be very free draining and often benefit from added coarse material such as shingle chips or pumice. Bark based mixes seem to work well but some growers feel they produce too much ethylene, which may harm the plants , Abatement and Confronting Legitimate Issues in the long run. Many commercial growers use soil , Landscaping 101 based mixes and they generally prefer relatively poor and gritty volcanic soils. , Why Gardening is Better
Even plants , Pool Waterfalls with low nutrient demands will eventually exhaust their potting mix, so you will have to apply fertiliser occasionally. Use mild liquid fertilisers or special low-phosphate slow release pellets. Provided you are cautious the plants , Ticks should respond well.
Propagation
Proteas can be frustratingly difficult plants , Abatement Consideration and Issues in Rural America to propagate. Fresh seed , 'Sir Cedric Morris' Hardy Geranium often germinates well only for the seedlings to collapse after a few weeks. This is usually due to a fungal disease , Why Gardening is Better that blackens the foliage and eventually kills the young seedlings. Regular fungicide applications are important. Prick out the young seedlings into a coarse, free draining, unfertilised potting mix once they have their first true leaves.
Cultivars and selected forms must be propagated vegetatively. The usual method is firm semi-ripe cuttings in late summer , Why Gardening is Better and autumn. , 5 Most Popular Flowers for Your Garden The success rate varies markedly; some cultivars, such as Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset', strike quite easily while many others may be virtually impossible without professional equipment.
Pests and Diseases
Grow , ing Rare Fruits for Fun or Profit n under the right conditions proteaceous plants , Abatement Consideration and Issues in Rural America are relatively free of pests , Outdoor Sports Lighting and diseases, , Basil: The King of Herbs or rather they're not attacked by anything out of the ordinary. The most widespread problems are leaf roller caterpillars and scale insects, which can eventually lead to sooty mould.
When growing , Creating A Balcony Garden Oasis proteas from seed , Earthworms in the Garden/Earthworm Facts you will doubtless lose some to the fungal disease , Discount Patio Furniture – An Easy Way to Get the Best mentioned above. This disease, , Design Your Own Rose Garden which appears to be a type of damping off, can sometimes also attack more mature plants. , Abatement and Confronting Legitimate Issues It appears to be far worse in excessively wet conditions or after long periods of high humidity. Good ventilation and avoidance of overcrowding are effective preventatives and regular spraying with fungicides may control the problem.
Common genera
Many of these plants , Fish Health in Hot Summer Heat are not widely available at garden , Abatement Consideration and Issues in Rural America centres, although specialist growers would consider them to be just the most common genera and are likely to stock others as well. All of the species and genera covered here are evergreen unless otherwise stated.
Aulax
This is a South African genus of small to medium sized shrubs. , Pool Waterfalls This genus and Leucadendron are the only dioecious (separate male and female plants) members of the Proteaceae. Seed , You Take The Vacation - Not Your Garden of all three species, Aulax cancellata, Aulax pallasia and Aulax umbellata, is available but only Aulax cancellata is commonly planted. It grows , Tips for Choosing a Chiminea for Your Backyard or Patio to 1.5-2m × 1m and has fine needle-like leaves. In spring, , The Basics Of Building Your Own Greenhouse female plants , The Best Types Of Fish For Your Garden Pond produce red edged yellow flowers , How to Reduce Pollution Using a Robotic Lawn Mower that develop into red seed , Design Your Own Rose Garden cones. The catkin-like male flowers , The Basics Of Building Your Own Greenhouse are yellow, as are those of Aulax pallasia and Aulax umbellata, the female flowers , Gardening - Growing Herbs In Containers of which are not very showy. Aulax pallasia grows , Designing Your Flower Garden For Year-Round Beauty to about 3 m and Aulax umbellata about 1.5m. All are hardy to about -5°C and are usually raised from seed. , How To Design And Build A Fish Pond
Banksia
An Australian genus of about 60 species, ranging in size from ground covers to medium-sized trees. , How to Reduce Pollution Using a Robotic Lawn Mower The flowering season , Step by Step 'Leaf' Stepping Stones is primarily from late winter , Creating A Balcony Garden Oasis to late spring , Outdoor Sports Lighting and most species have cylindrical cone-like flower , Viburnum in the Garden heads composed of densely packed filamentous styles radiating from a central core. Creamy yellow to light , How to Reduce Pollution Using a Robotic Lawn Mower golden-yellow is the predominant colour , Earthworms in the Garden/Earthworm Facts range, although a few species, such as Banksia ericifolia and Banksia praemorsa, have golden-orange flowers , A Look at Planting Bulbs and those of Banksia coccinea are red. Most species have narrow serrated leaves that are mid to deep green , A Few Gardens Built By The Moghuls above and silvery grey on the undersides but Banksia ericifolia has fine needle-like leaves. Leaf size varies from very small up to the 50cm long leaves of Banksia grandis. Hardiness varies with the species, some are quite frost tender but some will tolerate -10°C.
Relatively few are seen in nurseries but the seed , Discount Patio Furniture – An Easy Way to Get the Best of most species can be obtained from Australia. Banksia ericifolia and Banksia integrifolia are the most widely grown and are also the hardiest of the common species, both withstanding -10°C once well established. There are hardly any cultivars or selected forms of Banksia in cultivation. Species may be raised from seed , A Look at Planting Flower Bulbs and most will also strike quite freely from semi-ripe cuttings.
Dryandra
An Australian genus of around 60 species of shrubs , A Look at Planting Flower Bulbs ranging in height from about 1-4 m. Most have narrow, mid to deep green , How To Design And Build A Fish Pond leaves that are often very long and narrow with sharply toothed edges. The rounded flower , How To Design And Build A Fish Pond heads, which appear from mid winter, , Gardening - Growing Herbs In Containers are usually light , The Best Types Of Fish For Your Garden Pond to bright yellow. The most common species is Dryandra formosa, which grows , Daylilies - The Perfect Perennial to about 3m and is hardy to around -5°C once established (most of the other species are less hardy). Dryandras are superb long-lasting cut flowers , Don't Treat Your Soil Like Dirt and some will also dry well. They will grow , Design Your Own Rose Garden on extremely poor soil , Growing Rare Fruits for Fun or Profit and generally react badly to most fertilisers. Raise from seed , 'Sir Cedric Morris' Hardy Geranium or semi-ripe cuttings, which are often difficult to strike.
Embothrium
The Chilean Fire , Gardening with Bamboo Bush (Embothrium coccineum) is a small tree , Why Should You Own a Greenhouse? around 5m × 2.5m. It has 100mm long, leathery, bright green , Decks For Above Ground Pools: Can Beautify Your Yard As Well leaves that may become somewhat sparse on older plants. , Lawn Furniture In mid to late spring , Lawn Furniture the tree , Earthworms in the Garden/Earthworm Facts turns vivid orange-red as the honeysuckle-like tubular flowers , Furniture Benches Are Perfect For Every Outdoor Space open - the flowering season , Marsh Marigold is brief but spectacular. Two forms are grown: 'Longifolium' and 'Lanceolatum'; 'Longifolium' is the more common cultivar. It is a vigorous upright plant , Lawn Furniture that is quite drought , How to Grow Cucumbers tolerant and hardy to about -10°C. 'Lanceolatum' is a stockier grower with narrow leaves. It demands more moisture , Wildflower Seeds - Ten Reasons Why You Should Plant... but withstands harder frosts, up to -15°C with some protection. However, in very cold winters , Ticks it may lose up to two thirds of its foliage. Overall Embothrium requires more moisture , Abatement and Confronting Legitimate Issues than most Proteaceae but good drainage is still important. It may be grown from seed , Ticks but is usually propagated by semi-ripe cuttings.
Grevillea
With some 250 species, this is the largest of the Australian proteaceous genera. Most of the common garden , Flowers, An Annual Event species and cultivars are ground covers to medium-sized shrubs , Flowers, An Annual Event (up to 3m) with needle-like foliage. However, some species are far larger. The silky oak (Grevillea robusta), which is often seen in mild area, can grow , A Few Gardens Built By The Moghuls to 20m and in common with most of the larger species it has large pinnate leaves. Grevillea banksii has similar foliage but only grows , Protecting your Garden Pond from Pesky Predators to about 3.5m × 3m.
The more densely foliaged plants, , How to Grow Cucumbers especially Grevillea juniperina and Grevillea rosmarinifolia, are often used as hedging plants. , Gardening with Bamboo These plants , Lawn Furniture grow to at least 1.5m high.
Grevillea flowers , Gardening with Bamboo are often describe as 'spider flowers'. This refers to the styles of some species, which tend to radiate from the centre like a spider's legs. Some species have 'toothbrush' flowers; the styles are all on one side like the bristles of a toothbrush. The best known example of this type of flower , Wild Seeds - Ten Reasons Why You Should Plant... is the common red-flowered cultivar 'Robin Hood'.
Many Grevillea cultivars are cultivated and they generally adapt well to garden conditions. Among the more popular are 'Jenkinsii' (a heavy flowering , Don't Treat Your Soil Like Dirt form of the red-flowered Grevillea rosmarinifolia), 'Robyn Gordon' (orange-red to red toothbrush flowers) ×gaudichaudii (deep red), 'Austraflora Canterbury Gold' (light golden yellow) and many of the Poorinda cultivars. Grevilleas are among the more widely available proteaceous plants , Landscaping 101 and most nurseries stock a good selection.
The species and hybrids vary enormously in hardiness. Some will stand little or no frost but others, such as Grevillea rosmarinifolia, will tolerate frosts of -10°C or lower; all prefer full sun , Decks For Above Ground Pools: Can Beautify Your Yard As Well with good drainage. The species are easily raised from seed , How to Reduce Pollution Using a Robotic Lawn Mower and most hybrids strike quite freely from semi-ripe cuttings taken in late summer , Basil: The King of Herbs or autumn. , Decks For Above Ground Pools: Can Beautify Your Yard As Well
Hakea
This Australian genus includes about 130 species, few of which are widely cultivated. The most common is probably Hakea laurina, the Pincushion Hakea. When not in flower, , Constructing a Garden Path this species could easily be mistaken for a small eucalyptus. It has bluish-green narrow, oblong to sickle-shaped leaves and reddish-brown bark. It grows , Step by Step 'Leaf' Stepping Stones to about 6m × 4m and mature trees , Pool Waterfalls have a slightly weeping habit. The name pincushion refers to the flowers, , Furniture Benches Are Perfect For Every Outdoor Space which are spherical, with numerous radiating styles. They appear in late autumn , The Best Types Of Fish For Your Garden Pond and early winter, , A Few Gardens Built By The Moghuls opening cream and turning to orange and red as they age. This shrub , Ginseng Benefits is hardy to about -5°C once well established and is easily grown in most well-drained soils. , Aluminum Sling Patio Furniture. Comfortable Seating for Outdoor Settings
Of the other species, the most common are Hakea salicifolia, Hakea prostrata and Hakea sericea. They are hardy to about -8°C or slightly lower and are easily grown in most soils. , The Basics Of Building Your Own Greenhouse Hakea salicifolia has narrow, willow-like leaves, spidery, white flowers , Protecting your Garden Pond from Pesky Predators that are produced in spring. , Flowers, An Annual Event It grows , Abatement and Confronting Legitimate Issues up to 5m high and will tolerate poor drainage. Hakea prostrata and Hakea sericea have fine needle-like leaves and white , Ginseng Benefits or pale pink flowers , Pool Waterfalls in winter , Backyard Landscaping Ideas and early spring. , Decks For Above Ground Pools: Can Beautify Your Yard As Well It grows , Fish Health in Hot Summer Heat to about 3m × 2m. All member of this genus are usually raised from seed , The Tools You'll Need for Gardening but some can be grown from cuttings. A few, such as H. franciscana, are weak growers that often perform better when grafted onto more vigorous stocks, such as Hakea salicifolia.
Isopogon
Drumsticks, which refers to the shape of the flower , 'Sir Cedric Morris' Hardy Geranium stems and unopened buds, , Protecting your Garden Pond from Pesky Predators is a name often used for Isopogon anemonifolius but it can also be applied to the genus as a whole. It is an Australian genus of 34 species of small to medium sized shrubs, , Ticks most of which grow , Designing Your Flower Garden For Year-Round Beauty from 1-2m high and about as wide. They have a preference for poor but well-drained soil , The Best Types Of Fish For Your Garden Pond and will quickly collapse if over-watered or overfed. Most species have narrow lanceolate leaves about 75mm long and some, such as the common Isopogon anemonifolius, have finely cut foliage reminiscent of Marguerite daisy or Anemone leaves.
The flower , The Best Types Of Fish For Your Garden Pond heads, which open in spring , Flowers, An Annual Event and early summer, , Why Gardening is Better are composed of a central cone from which radiate numerous styles. Some species have short stiff styles but in others they are long and filamentous. The flower , Designing Your Garden For Year-Round Beauty colours are mainly white, , Growing Rare Fruits for Fun or Profit yellow or pink. , Lawn Furniture The two most widely grown species, Isopogon anemonifolius and Isopogon anethifolius are hardy to about -5°C, but many species, such as Isopogon cuneatus and the temptingly beautiful pink , Backyard Landscaping Ideas and yellow-flowered Isopogon latifolius, are damaged at temperatures , Growing Rare Fruits for Fun or Profit below -2°C. Isopogon species are usually raised from seed. , Constructing a Garden Path
Knightia
The Rewa Rewa or New Zealand Honeysuckle (Knightia excelsa) is the best known of the two New Zealand proteaceous species. In the wild it can grow , 'Sir Cedric Morris' Hardy Geranium to be a tall narrow tree , How to Reduce Pollution Using a Robotic Lawn Mower up to 25m high and it is one of the few proteaceous plants , Aluminum Sling Patio Furniture. Comfortable Seating for Outdoor Settings to have been harvested for its timber, , Flowers, An Annual Event which is very attractively marked. In gardens , Protecting your Pond from Pesky Predators it is more restrained and seldom exceeds 8m × 3.5m. Rewa rewa has semi-glossy, deep green , How to Grow a Pineapple to bronze-green, narrow, lanceolate to oblong leaves that are very tough and leathery. In summer , Viburnum in the Garden it produces tubular honeysuckle-like flowers , Gardening - Growing Herbs In Containers that develop from buds , The Best Types Of Fish For Your Garden Pond covered in a reddish brown tomentum. As the flowers , Designing Your Garden For Year-Round Beauty open the tomentum covered sepals and the petals curl back to form a congested mass in the centre of the flower , Decks For Above Ground Pools: Can Beautify Your Yard As Well head. The flowers, , Abatement Consideration and Issues in Rural America which can smell unpleasant, are followed by conspicuous brown, velvety seed , Flowers, An Annual Event pods. Rewa Rewa is easily grown in moist well-drained soil , The Basics Of Building Your Own Greenhouse in sun , Landscaping Combo Auto Detailing Business? or partial shade and is hardy to about -5°C or slightly lower once established. It may be grown in any coastal area if protected when young. New Zealand honeysuckle is usually raised from seed , Backyard Landscaping Ideas and garden , Viburnum in the centres often stock ready-grown plants. , How to Grow a Pineapple
Leucadendron
Species of this genus are the most widely grown of the South African Proteaceae and many are valued for the long-lasting qualities of their flower , A Look at Planting Bulbs bracts once cut. Most are medium-sized shrubs , Why Should You Own a Greenhouse? around 1-2.5m high. However, one of the best known species, the silver tree , Ginseng Benefits (Leucadendron argenteum), can grow , Ginseng Benefits to 10m high and the less widely grown Leucadendron eucalyptifolium may reach 5m.
Many species and cultivars are grown, but probably the most widely planted is 'Safari Sunset'. It is a hybrid between Leucadendron laureolum and Leucadendron salignum and is fairly typical of the genus. It has narrow, lanceolate leaves that are up to 100mm long. Some species, such as L. argenteum, have tomentose foliage but 'Safari Sunset' does not. The upward-facing foliage densely covers the narrow, upright branches and develops deep red tints at the flowering tips. , The Tools You'll Need for Gardening Deep red leaf bracts enclose the flower , Constructing a Garden Path cones. As the insignificant flowers , Viburnum in the Garden near maturity, the bracts become intensely coloured. 'Safari Sunset' has red bracts but others develop cream, yellow, pink , Viburnum in the Garden or orange tones. 'Wilson's Wonder' (yellow and orange-red), 'Maui Sunset' (cream, yellow and red) and 'Rewa Gold' (yellow) are among the most spectacular. Leucadendrons generally develop their best colours , A Few Gardens Built By The Moghuls from mid to late winter , A Look at Planting Flower Bulbs but 'Jester' a pink, , The Tools You'll Need for Gardening cream and green , Why Gardening is Better variegated sport of 'Safari Sunset' is brightly coloured throughout the year.
The species and hybrids vary considerably in hardiness but most will tolerate frosts of at least -3°C provided they have good drainage and the humidity is not excessive. 'Safari Sunset' is hardy to about -8°C and most of the numerous Leucadendron salignum and Leucadendron laureolum hybrids are nearly as hardy. In the North Island leucadendrons generally thrive in all but the coldest central areas and they can be grown with varying degrees of success in all coastal areas of the South Island.
Leucadendrons can be tricky to propagate. Reasonably firm cuttings taken in early autumn , Outdoor Sports Lighting are usually the easiest to strike but gardeners without specialised propagating facilities may experience problems and although seed , Ten Considerations Before You Buy A Bird House germinates well, it is inclined to damp off. Garden , Viburnum in the centres often stock a good range of plants. , 'Sir Cedric Morris' Hardy Geranium
Leucospermum
A South African genus of about 50 species, most of which are medium to large shrubs , How to Grow a Pineapple that grow , Why Gardening is Better to about 1.5-3m high. Some, such as Leucospermum reflexum, have strongly upright growth habits but most, including the commonly cultivated species, Leucospermum cordifolium, are dense and bushy. Both of these species have tomentose greyish-green leaves that are usually broadly oval shaped, often with small red-tipped lobes. The leaves of Leucospermum reflexum are narrower and greyer than those of Leucospermum cordifolium. Leucospermum reflexum can grow , Patio Umbrellas to 3m × 3m but Leucospermum cordifolium is usually around 1.5m × 1.5m.
The flowers , Decks For Above Ground Pools: Can Beautify Your Yard As Well are variously described as Catherine wheels, pincushions and sky rockets, all of which refer to the numerous radiating styles. These are often incurved, creating a cupped effect. The flower , Design Your Own Rose Garden heads of Leucospermum cordifolium are quite globular while those of Leucospermum reflexum have drooping styles at the base of the flower. , A Few Gardens Built By The Moghuls The flowers , Don't Treat Your Soil Like Dirt usually appear in late spring , Fish Health in Hot Summer Heat and continue for about two months. They are attractive when fresh but often become unsightly once they die off.
Most garden , ing with Bamboo leucospermums are cultivars of Leucospermum cordifolium and are hardy to occasional frosts of about -5°C, but they resent wet or humid winter , Tips for Choosing a Chiminea for Your Backyard or Patio conditions, which can often lead to tip , How to Grow a Pineapple die back. Good drainage is also very important. Cuttings taken in early autumn , Landscaping 101 are the most likely to strike but without proper equipment they may prove difficult and seed , Flowers, An Annual Event often germinates well only to be killed by fungal diseases. , Discount Patio Furniture – An Easy Way to Get the Best Gritty well-drained soil, , Design Your Own Rose Garden regular fungicide use and just enough water , Improvements in Robotic Lawn Mowers to keep the seedlings standing up are the keys to success. The orange-flowered 'Harry Chittick' is the plant , Why Should You Own a Greenhouse? most commonly stocked by nurseries and it is one that performs very well.
Mimetes
This South African genus includes 11 species, only one of which is widely grown. Mimetes cucullatus has 40mm long oblong leaves with small lobes at the tips, , You Take The Vacation - Not Your Garden that densely cover the branches like upward facing scales. The small white flowers , Improvements in Robotic Lawn Mowers are enclosed within leaf bracts that change colour , Furniture Benches Are Perfect For Every Outdoor Space to a bright red as the flower , Furniture Benches Are Perfect For Every Outdoor Space buds mature. Mimetes may flower , Creating A Balcony Garden Oasis throughout the year but is usually at its best in late spring , Abatement and Confronting Legitimate Issues when the new growth appears, as this is also red. Mimetes cucullatus grows , Wildflower Seeds - Ten Reasons Why You Should Plant... to about 1.5m × 1.5m and is hardy to around -3°C. It prefers moist, well-drained soil , Abatement Consideration and Issues in Rural America and is not very drought , Gardening with Bamboo tolerant. This species is usually raised from seed. , Basil: The King of Herbs
Paranomus
The most common species of this 18-species genus, Paranomus reflexus, is an undemanding 1.5m × 1.8m bush with bright yellow bottle-brush-like flower , Earthworms in the Garden/Earthworm Facts heads in winter , Growing Rare Fruits for Fun or Profit and spring. , 'Sir Cedric Morris' Hardy Geranium The foliage is anemone-like and very finely cut; the flower , The Tools You'll Need for Gardening stems have small diamond shaped leaves just below the flower , How To Design And Build A Fish Pond heads. It is easily grown in any well-drained soil , Pool Waterfalls in full sun. , Marsh Marigold Although the plant , Viburnum in the Garden is hardy to about -5°C, the flowers , The Tools You'll Need for Gardening are damaged by frosts over -2°C. It is usually raised from seed. , The Best Types Of Fish For Your Garden Pond
Persoonia
An Australian genus of around 75 species of shrubs, , Why Gardening is Better mostly under 2 m tall and some quite small. Known as geebungs, by far the best-known species is the Pine-leaf Geebung (Persoonia pinifolia), an eastern Australian native that is one of the larger species, capable of reaching 3 m tall. It has a weeping habit, fine needle-like leaves and small yellow flowers. , Landscaping Combo Auto Detailing Business? Most geebungs will tolerate about 2 to 5°C of frost.
Protea
Protea is a genus of about 80 species that is confined to southern Africa and concentrated around the Cape of Good Hope. The species range in size from less than 50cm high to over 4m. Most commonly grown proteas are small to medium sized shrubs , Ten Considerations Before You Buy A Bird House in the 1-2.5m high range.
The best known species is Protea neriifolia. It has narrow leaves up to 150mm long that are covered with a fine tomentum when young. In autumn, , Earthworms in the Garden/Earthworm Facts winter , Decks For Above Ground Pools: Can Beautify Your Yard As Well and spring, , A Look at Planting Flower Bulbs upright, 125mm long × 75mm wide goblet-shaped flowers , The Best Types Of Fish For Your Garden Pond are carried at the tips , Marsh Marigold of the branches. They are composed of a woolly central cone surrounded by overlapping, upward-facing, petal-like, deep reddish-pink bracts tipped with a fringe of black hairs. Many forms with varying colours , Why Should You Own a Greenhouse? of bract and tip , The Best Types Of Fish For Your Garden Pond hairs are grown. Several other species, such as Protea magnifica and Protea laurifolia, have similar flowers. , Designing Your Garden For Year-Round Beauty
The central cone, often with many incurving styles, is common to all Protea species but the arrangement of the bracts varies. Many have them arranged in a stellate or star-shaped fashion. The King Protea (Protea cynaroides) is the best known of this type. Its flowers , Fish Health in Hot Summer Heat can be up to 300mm in diameter. The flowers , Creating A Balcony Garden Oasis of the king protea face upwards but others, such as greenish-yellow-flowered Protea sulphurea, have downward facing flowers. , Improvements in Robotic Lawn Mowers
The foliage is also variable. It may be needle-like, as in Protea nana, lanceolate, oblong or rounded. It can be silvery grey, glaucous or bright green , Marsh Marigold depending on the species and it may or may not be tomentose.
Likewise, hardiness varies considerably. Most species will tolerate at least -3°C with good drainage and low humidity but many are considerably tougher. Protea neriifolia will withstand -5°C and Protea grandiceps will often survive -10°C when well established. Proteas do well over most of the North Island and many species can be grown as far south as Christchurch with a little winter , Why Gardening is Better protection.
Protea species are often raised from seed, , How to Grow Cucumbers which germinates well, but the seedlings may be difficult to keep alive. Hybrids and cultivars must be propagated vegetatively. The usual method is firm semi-ripe cuttings taken in late summer , Marsh Marigold and autumn. , Aluminum Sling Patio Furniture. Comfortable Seating for Outdoor Settings Specialist growers stock many species and cultivars while garden , The Basics Of Building Your Own Greenhouse centres seldom have anything other than the most common plants. , Aluminum Sling Patio Furniture. Comfortable Seating for Outdoor Settings
Serruria
Blushing Bride (Serruria florida) is very popular with florists , The Best Types Of Fish For Your Garden Pond because its Nigella-like papery white , Aluminum Sling Patio Furniture. Comfortable Seating for Outdoor Settings bracts are very delicate and last well as cut flowers. , How to Reduce Pollution Using a Robotic Lawn Mower The bracts, which are surrounded with finely cut lacy leaves, are produced freely in winter , The Tools You'll Need for Gardening and spring. , Marsh Marigold Blushing Bride can be difficult to grow, , Tips for Choosing a Chiminea for Your Backyard or Patio because not only is it frost tender (it tolerates only occasional exposure to -2°C), it must also have full sun , Landscaping Combo Auto Detailing Business? and absolutely perfect drainage. It is one of a genus of 44 species from South Africa, of which the only other species commonly grown is Serruria rosea. It is a densely foliaged 70cm × 90cm bush with small pink , Daylilies - The Perfect Perennial bracts and is slightly hardier and definitely easier to grow , Furniture Benches Are Perfect For Every Outdoor Space than Serruria florida. Serruria species should be raised from seed. , How to Grow a Pineapple
Stenocarpus
The Queensland Firewheel Tree , Why Gardening is Better (Stenocarpus sinuata) is a large tree , Designing Your Flower Garden For Year-Round Beauty (12m × 8m) that produces a magnificent display of orange to red flowers , Growing Rare Fruits for Fun or Profit in summer. , Landscaping Combo Auto Detailing Business? It has large, glossy, dark green , Step by Step 'Leaf' Stepping Stones leaves that are deeply lobed. The flowers , Ticks are tubular and are carried in flattened clusters that radiate spoke-like from a central hub, hence the name firewheel tree. , Earthworms in the Garden/Earthworm Facts It is hardy to about -4°C once well established but is very tender when young and does best in moist well-drained soil , A Look at Planting Flower Bulbs in full sun. , Aluminum Sling Patio Furniture. Comfortable Seating for Outdoor Settings Stenocarpus salignus is a species with long, narrow leaves and cream flowers. , Discount Patio Furniture – An Easy Way to Get the Best It is smaller and hardier than Stenocarpus sinuata. Stenocarpus is usually raised from seed. , Daylilies - The Perfect Perennial
Telopea
Natives of Australia, the waratah genus includes just four species. The New South Wales waratah (Telopea speciosissima), which is the one most commonly grown has oblong, finely serrated leaves that are up to 125mm long with small notches or lobes at the tips. , Ginseng Benefits It develops into a large shrub , You Take The Vacation - Not Your Garden or small tree , How to Reduce Pollution Using a Robotic Lawn Mower up to 5m × 5m. The flowers, , Backyard Landscaping Ideas which are produced in spring , How to Reduce Pollution Using a Robotic Lawn Mower and carried at the tips , Wildflower Seeds - Ten Reasons Why You Should Plant... of the branches, are impressively large, bright red, and composed of numerous incurving styles surrounded by red foliage bracts. Several cultivars, such as the semi-dwarf 'Forest Fire' (2m × 2m) are reasonably commonly available. The 'Victorian Waratah' (Telopea oreades) is a similar plant , Design Your Own Rose Garden with slightly l |
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