The goblet-shaped flowers bloom in large clusters with fluffy centers surrounded by bright and spiky bracts.
The large leaves are hard and leathery and snap rather than fold when bent.
Protea plants are toxic to humans and pets.
The Spruce / K. Dave
Their thick, hard leaves enable them to survive in quite harsh conditions.
Protea plants thrive in just about any bang out of soil, from sandy or rocky, to loamy.
The soil should be slightly acidic, with apH around 5.5.
The Spruce / K. Dave
Avoid water pooling on the soil because the roots easily become waterlogged, likely causing the plant to die.
Water
Until the plant is established, water protea regularly.
Established plants need water every two to three weeks in the absence of rain.
The Spruce / K. Dave
To keep the soil cool, apply a layer of leaf or barkmulchbut keep it away from the trunk.
Avoid planting proteas in particularly humid climates.
Good air circulation is key to plant health.
The Spruce / K. Dave
Do not prune unflowered stems; they are next season’s blooms.
Propagating Protea
The best way to propagate protea is from cuttings taken between December and April.
Protea plants need medium to large pots with excellent drainage.
Use a well-draining potting mix or mix even parts of peat, gravel, and sand.
To get the most out of your protea plant, have a go at repot once a year.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Proteas are quite resistant to pests.
Because they bloom in late winter to spring, some gardeners include them in holiday wreaths.
What Do Protea Flowers Look and Smell Like?
The showy flower looks like a cylinder-shaped pincushion or firework.
Due to their large size and light requirements, protea plants are usually grown outdoors, not indoors.
The closest to protea is the conebush (Leucadendron).
The flowers will last one or two weeks at most in optimal conditions.
Cal Poly Humboldt Botanical Studies, no.
University of California Santa Cruz.
