I recieved a private message about proteas so I thought I would come back on and post an update. Things have been going well. I've found that they are a lot more hardy if you grow them in a raised bed to keep the roots dry. I've constructed one against the house that raises the soil level by over a foot. This is full of a mix of gravel, sand and compost so its quite free draining and keeps the roots from sitting in soaking soil in the winter. I've includes some photos but since I havent been on forums, I havent taken many for a couple of years so they are mostly of the plants two years ago. They are all a lot bigger now.
A few plants can grow without this treatment. Grevillea Juniperina does well as does Embothrium. This has been getting better each year.
I've also got a protea which I had bought as protea subvestita but I am now convinced is protea lacticolor. This seems happy in the normal garden soil although I have mave just got lucky with the one.
Banksia marginata grows well in the garden too.
In the raised bed I have telopea and most of the proteas as well as banksia spinulosa
One of the issues with proteas is that most flower in winter and spring. If you dont protect the buds from the rain they rot and you dont get the flowers. I've found a cover made with coke bottles helps protect them.
Protea red barron fits into this category as does the king protea. The king protea is a lt more frost sensitive though and frequently gets cut back to its underground lignotuber. Its hard to getto flower outside.
Protea possum magic is an early flowering plant but the buds dont seem as fragile and I havent had to protect them
The summer flowering species are a lot easier. Not only do you not have to protect the buds but they flower when you are outside to see them.
Protea aurea is reliable and fast growing but not the most spectacular
Protea eximia is flowering at the momennt in my garden
In a couple of months protea sylvia will flower. Thats my favourite flower
Protea venustra makes a good ground cover plant and is very hardy. Its also summer flowering
I've also found protea grandicepts to be hardy but very slow growing. I've not had any flowers yet. Protea burcheii and susanne are also worth a try. I've had some flowers on them and the plants have been through several winters
Hpopefully this helps
proteas
proteas
It is on a slight slope yes. The raised bed is up against a second hand conservatory that i bought and stuck that on the back of the house. Its used for storing my brugmansias in the winter and is insulated enough that it needs no heating. Because its just for the plants, I dont have to worry about the damp - the plants inside generate a lot of that anyway
proteas
Thanks Chez. They are a really impressive flower which is probably why i have spent a lot of time growing them. I seem to have got the hang now although there have been a lot of plants sacrificed along the way!
Aurea is doing so welll now its beginning to block the windows as is eximia
Heres protea Susanne
And Burchelii
This is Lacticolor which I have just growing in a normal flower bed
This is the ground cover Venustra
These have all survived multiple winters outside
Aurea is doing so welll now its beginning to block the windows as is eximia
Heres protea Susanne
And Burchelii
This is Lacticolor which I have just growing in a normal flower bed
This is the ground cover Venustra
These have all survived multiple winters outside
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proteas
Bodster, your Proteas are an inspiration to us all. I have to say I have only found one of the ones you have recommended so far! I will keep looking.
Regards Jason.
Regards Jason.
Don't Just sit there, plant something!
The Kid.
The Kid.
proteas
have you tried www.proteaonline.com? Thats where i've got many of mine. They are an italian site and ship good plants. Without wanting to bring politics into this, whilst we are in the EU, its a simple matter to get the plants. you can just order online and they ship them.
The species can be grown from seed. You can get them fromfinebushpeople.com. They ship them from south africa
You can occasionalyy get some of the more common species plants here too
The species can be grown from seed. You can get them fromfinebushpeople.com. They ship them from south africa
You can occasionalyy get some of the more common species plants here too