#GROW

​​How to grow Proteas in your outdoor space

AUG 20, 2021 | Written by Zoë Chapman Poulsen, Photos by Zoë Chapman Poulsen

Above: The king Protea comes in a variety of different colour forms and sizes, depending on the space available in your garden. This is one of the darker colour forms. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

One of South Africa’s most iconic plant groups, the Proteas are both the most well-known members of the Protea family (Proteaceae) and one of the most famous plant groups of our beloved fynbos.

Named after the Greek God Proteus, who could change his form at will, the Proteas are known for their extraordinary diversity of spectacular blooms. It is for this that they are also much loved by plant growers.

It’s easier than you might think to grow a Protea in your outdoor space, rewarding you with stunning flowers and attracting a range of wildlife to the garden.

Pink (left) and creamy yellow (right) colour forms of the narrow-leaf Protea (Protea neriifolia) in bloom. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

Garden with your environment

Most Protea species are adapted to growing on acid soils that are relatively poor in nutrients. However, there are some species that will also grow on alkaline soils.

Knowing whether your soil is acid or alkaline is an important starting point in deciding which Protea species to select from your garden. If you are new to gardening or are gardening for the first time in a new area, it is worth finding this out.

You can either use a pH testing kit available from your nearest garden centre or test the acidity of your soil using baking soda. You can test for soil acidity by adding ½ cup water and ½ cup of baking soda. If the mixture fizzes, you have acidic soil. You can do the same with vinegar to test the alkalinity of your soil too.

Examples of Proteas that will do well on slightly alkaline soils include the common sugarbush (Protea repens), the thistle sugarbush (Protea scolymocephala) and the narrow-leaf protea (Protea neriifolia).

Above: The common sugarbush (Protea repens) in full bloom at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

Make space for wildlife

As urban areas have expanded, space for nature has significantly reduced over time, with gardens becoming increasingly important wildlife habitats.

When planted in gardens, Proteas can play a significant role in providing a food source for pollinators. Visitors to your Protea you might see include nectar-feeding birds such as sunbirds and sugarbirds, honeybees, protea beetles and monkey beetles.

All these garden visitors form an important part of the food chain and ecosystem of your garden. To keep them safe and thriving, avoid the use of non-organic pesticides and herbicides.

Above: A malachite sunbird visiting a Leucospermum at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

Above: A lighter pink and larger form of the king Protea (Protea cynaroides) in bloom at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

Marvellous mulch

Once your Proteas are established in your garden, most species are hardy, drought tolerant and waterwise. However, one of the most important ways of gardening with your environment in water-scarce South Africa is to retain water in the soil.

The best way to do this is to mulch your garden beds with decayed organic material such as leaves or wood chips. This also keeps the roots of your plants cool during hot summer weather and cuts down on growth of weeds, in turn reducing time spent on garden maintenance.

Above: The thistle sugarbush (Protea scolymocephala) has attractive soft yellow flowers and is one of the smaller members of the genus. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

Consider a container

Is your soil too alkaline or heavy-clay derived to grow Proteas? Is your outdoor space on concrete with no garden beds? Do you want to take your Protea with you when you move? Why not grow your Protea in a container?

Some of the smaller Protea species adapt well to being grown in deep containers. One popular example is the king Protea (Protea cynaroides) which is South Africa’s national flower.

For greatest success, select one of the dwarf forms of the king Protea. Ask the staff at your local nursery or garden centre for more information.

Above: Green protea beetle visiting a Protea flower at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

Starter Protea species for beginners

One of the easiest Proteas to grow is the common sugarbush (Protea repens). It is tolerant of a wide range of soil types and comes in a variety of different flower colours from white to crimson.

One should not be put off growing the stink-leaved sugarbush (Protea susannae) by its name and aroma. It is easy growing and an excellent choice for coastal gardens where it is highly tolerant of salt-laden winds.

For colour in the winter garden, there is no better choice than the narrow-leaf Protea (Protea neriifolia). It makes highly attractive cut flowers that will add botanical beauty to your home during the coldest months of the year.

Browse Proteas on PlantZAfrica.