Image - Flickr / berniedup
La Protea cynaroides It is a very decorative tropical shrub that can be grown both in a pot and in the garden. Its magnificent compound flowers are an excuse to feel much happier, since they are very, very colorful and cheerful.
Its maintenance, I will not fool you, it is not too simple if you do not live in a frost-free area, but it is not impossible either. Discover it.
Origin and characteristics
Image - Wikimedia / Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Our protagonist it is an evergreen shrub popularly called by the names of Giant Protea or King Protea (king protea in English). It is native to the southwest and south of South Africa, in the Fynbos region (it is the most widespread plant formation in the south of the continent, characterized by its great resistance to drought and fire).
It reaches a variable height, depending on the habitat or crop conditions: from 0,35 to 2 meters. The stems are thick, reddish-brown in color; from them sprout dark green leaves and glossy, whole and opposite. The flowers are compound, forming a pink floral head with a diameter of up to 10cm.
Uses
Its main use is as an ornamental plant; however, you have to know that it is the National Flower of South Africa, and the flagship flag of the Atlas Protea Project. What's more, can be used as a dried flower.
What are their cares?
If you want to have a specimen of Protea cynaroides, we recommend giving it the following care:
- Location:
- Outside: in full sun.
- Indoor (winter only): in a bright room, without drafts.
- Earth:
- Garden: grows in soils with very good drainage.
- Pot: mix mulch with perlite in equal parts.
- Irrigation: about 3 times a week in summer, a little less the rest of the year.
- Subscriber: from early spring to late summer with liquid fertilizers such as guano (get it here).
- Multiplication: by seeds in spring.
- Rusticity: it does not resist cold or frost. Ideally, it should not drop below 10ºC.
Enjoy your plant 🙂.