Protea: Everything you Need to Know
- Su Whale
- Aug 28
- 2 min read
Originating from South Africa, the Protea family is an ancient one, with evidence from fossils showing that they were growing 75-80 million years ago. They are unusual flowers, with lots of small, densely packed showy florets surrounded by waxy bracts, forming a cup shape. Spring flowering in their natural environment, cultivated Protea are available all year round, with different varieties peaking within that time.
What colours are Proteas available in?
Shades of pink and red from a delicate shell pink to a rich burgundy, many with deep red, almost black tips. Others are white, some are pale green, yellow or cream. They are very tactile flowers, with soft centres and leathery leaves.
Tips on buying Protea
Bold and unmistakable, Protea are true floral stars. They may be a little pricey per stem, but their fascinating shape, colour and form makes them worth every penny.
Stem length
They are not tall flowers, typically between 40-70cm. They can be bought in bunches of multiples of five, the number of stems in the bunch depending on the size of the flower head.
What to look for when buying Protea
Once cut, Protea will not develop much further, so buy them at the stage of development that suits what you want to use them for.
How long do Protea last for?
A fresh Protea can have a vase life of up to a month, dried, up to six months, although they will lose some of their colour once preserved.
How to care and condition Protea
Remove any leaves that will come into contact with water and any that are damaged or have black marks.
Woody-stemmed, re-cut at an angle, using a sharp knife or secateurs.
Proteas are top heavy, so choose a suitably weighted vase.
They are very thirsty flowers, keep an eye on the water level and top up vases and containers regularly, re-cutting stems each time.
Good air circulation is important for Protea to stop mould forming in the centre of the flower.
How to store Protea
Blacking of the flower or leaves is a sign that they have been stored in the dark. Keep them in a bright, well-lit room, at a temperature around 5°C, they prefer to be on the cool side, so keep out of direct sunlight.
How to dry Protea
Proteas are very easy to dry using the air drying method. Either hang up singly, or in small bunches in a dry, warm spot with plenty of air circulation. They can also be preserved using glycerine.
Images Envato Elements. Su Whale
Su Whale is a florist and freelance writer with over thirty years' experience in the floristry industry. She is the author and publisher of three best-selling books: Cut Flowers, 4th edition (2020) Cut Foliage, 2nd Edition, (2021) and Houseplants (2019), all bookshelf essentials for the professional florist.
