fresh focus King protea: Protea cynaroides Leucadendron: Leucadendron salignum Florists and floral-industry suppliers Old is new greens and grays, berzelia, brunia, Comments: Very large heads, 8 to 12 inches, Comments: Resembling colored foliage, these Prehistoric? tend to lump all of these genera waxflower, or kangaroo paws. with soft pink coloring. Leaves are leathery proteas actually have a very small flower Some striking new varieties have and may be used for pavé or other basing surrounded by colorful bracts atop each stem. together under the common name recently emerged: Susara, for techniques. Stems are 12 to 24 inches long. protea, given to the genus in 1735 The protea palette tends toward Photo by Rodd Halstead Photo by R. Philip Bouchard Yes. Utterly example, a hybrid with a fuzzy white Photo by Natalie Fitzpatrick by the father of modern taxonomy the modern, warm yet muted. center and petals (bracts) edged in himself, Carl Linnaeus. Linnaeus was Proteas, in fact, offer definitive modern? That dark pink, or Brenda, a striking honoring the diversity of flower proof that it’s possible to be both cherry-colored protea. Others—like forms in the genus by naming it after old and hip. And there’s a too. Nothing the proteas White Owl and Pink Owl, the Greek god Proteus, who could statement worth celebrating. with feathery incurving petals that change shape at will. gets attention really do give the flower an owl-like Care tips appearance—are too new to be • Remove 1-2 inches of the stem Most proteas have a vase life of 7 to widely available yet. end and place in a tepid flower- like proteas . 14 days, and some varieties may last food solution. Let condition in a 21 days with proper care. A common Any variety of protea remains a well-lighted area at room error is to place proteas in a By Bill McKinley AIFD and novelty, however, for most temperature for 1-2 hours. refrigerator that is too cold, says Bruce Wright consumers and for many retailers, • Proteas are not tropical flowers, Gwen Tubach of Pro-T-Kae Now, a Gwen observes. Consumers are which should never be refrigerated; grower-shipper specializing in Perhaps it makes perfect sense that generally intrigued; retailers may be however, they prefer less-chill Pink Mink: Protea neriifolia Pink Ice: Protea hybrid Sugarbush: Protea repens African and Australian flowers in Comments: The name “mink” comes from the Comments: Similar to Pink Mink and slightly Comments: A good substitute for Pink Mink in some of the longest-lived cut flowers wary if they have not worked with temperatures than some other cut Pauma Valley, California. “They’re soft fuzzy coating on the flowers, which are smaller, these flowers have a white sheen to form and size, these flowers lack the in the industry come from one of the proteas before. The large size of flowers. Placing them in a floral tipped in black. Flowers are 4 to 6 inches long. the petals (bracts). black-tipped edges and fuzzy texture. exotics—but not tropicals,” says oldest plant families on the Earth. many protea flowers, along with their refrigerator at 40 degrees F and Photo courtesy of California Protea Association Photo courtesy of California Protea Association Photo courtesy of California Protea Association Gwen, so they can be stored in a The Proteaceae originated 300 thick (often woody) stems and 85% humidity is ideal. floral cooler, unlike such tropical million years ago on the distinctive shapes, do require a • To prevent black leaf spots and flowers as ginger, heliconia, and supercontinent Gondwana, which different treatment design-wise. blackened leaf tips, keep proteas anthurium. Proteas, however, prefer included most of the landmasses in in a well-lighted area (in a lit cooler, higher temperatures than roses or today’s Southern Hemisphere. Later These same characteristics, for example), always use flower other temperate-region flowers. Gondwana split up into the however, can make proteas easy to food, and keep them away from continents we know today, which is arrange and the ideal solution for high temperatures. Decaying In July and August, proteas may why we find members of the wide- certain types of arrangements, like leaves in the buckets may also come from as far away as the lands ranging protea family native to large corporate or hotel designs, that contribute to the physiological of their origin in the southern regions as far apart as Australia, need to last a long time and have an problem of black leaf spots. Some hemisphere, where the seasons are South America and southern Africa. impact from a distance. Because of experts recommend using a small reversed and proteas are at their Southern Africa is home to species in their complex forms and intriguing amount of bleach in the water. peak. From September through the genus Protea , as well as to the texture, proteas often look best when • All proteas are easily dried by June, however, most proteas sold in related genera Leucadendron and treated with minimal fuss: simply hanging them upside down in North America were grown in Banksia: Banksia prionotes, B. hookeriana, Queen protea: Protea magnifica Pincushion protea: Leucospermum Leucospermum ; Banksia species combined, for example, with foliage a low humidity and low light area. southern California or Hawaii, where B. menziesii, B. coccinea Comments: Smaller than the King, these cordifolium, L. nutans and others in the grevillea branch of or accent flowers from Australia or The large flowers may take 3-4 Comments: Several sizes, 6 to 10 inch heads, flowers have a high crested black center. Comments: The porcupine appearance of this the climate and soil most nearly They are 6 to 8 inches in diameter. flower (3 to 5 inches in diameter) is deceptive; the the family hail from Australia. southern Africa, including melaleuca weeks to completely dry. and a variety of colors (yellow, golden, rust) are duplicates their natural habitat. available. Leaves have a saw-blade edge and Photo courtesy of California Protea Association “spikes” are actually very pliable and not harmful. may be used separately from the blossom. Flo we rs& Photo courtesy of California Protea Association Flo we rs&.