I have just worked out how to export the mass of photos on my computer and as I suspected, I have two pictures of South Africa’s national flower, the King Protea. According to Wikipedia (our current source of all knowledge), The King Protea (Protea cynaroides), also known as Giant Protea, Honeypot or King Sugar Bush, is widely distributed in the southwestern and southern parts of South Africa. It has the largest flower head in the genus, several colour forms (in some varieties the pink of the flower and red borders of leaves are replaced by a creamy yellow) and horticulturists have recognised 81 garden varieties. The specific label cynaroides refers to the artichoke-like appearance of the flowerheads; the artichoke belongs to the genus Cynara.
Great photographs and great plant. I am a big fan of proteas and actually have one growing in my garden.
I had always thought Durban, and especially Glenwood, was too humid to grow proteas but it seems to be doing really well. I will take a pic next time it flowers …
Beautiful Pics – I’m amazed that you’ve had success down on the coast with Proteas! I’ve also always thought the coastal conditions would be too much for them – at the least I thought the closest would be Kloof or Hillcrest?
Hi Ross. Yeah, I was very surprised as well. I planted near the top of a bank, in full sunlight, so not sure if that made a difference?
Hi There
I was looking for images of local indigenous flowers to mosaic on slate for Nashua Art in the Park, next year.
I came across yours and would like to copy in mosaic if that is ok with you.