The protea flower is a species of fynbos that grows gracefully and abundantly in South Africa. Not only is this uniquely shaped flower the national symbol of our incredible country but it’s also the name of our esteemed cricket team! It’s basically a national treasure and sought after in many homes! But here’s the thing, proteas are making a comeback as a super popular wedding flower. So, we thought it would be cool to share a few facts!
Did You Know These Protea Flower Facts?
- Proteas are evergreen trees and shrubs and they grow mostly in dry regions of the southern hemisphere, especially in Australia, South America and South Africa.
- Birds, bats, and small marsupial mammals pollinate this type of flower.
- The protea flower family has two important adaptations to the dry habitats in which they grow. First, their leaves are thick and hard which prevents moisture loss and decreases damage. Second, their roots are clumped and very thin for efficient absorption of water and mineral nutrients.
- Because protea plants and flowers occur naturally only in the southern hemisphere, it’s believed that the family originated on the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana.
- Greek legend tells us that the flower was named after Proteus, the son of Poseidon.
- The King Protea is the largest of all proteas and South Africa’s national flower. It appears on birth certificates, passports and the R5 coin.
- Protea bushes also go by the name, sugarbush or suikerbos in Afrikaans.
- Protea repens (sugarbush) are used in the medical field as a cough syrup ingredient to remedy chest disorders and diabetes.
- Proteas also grow in New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii!
A Uniquely South African Flower Arrangement
Proteas are exotic-looking flowers that make a statement when given to your nearest and dearest as a floral gift. You can recognise them by their distinctive bulb shape and fluffy petal-type things which vary in colour from pink to red. Because of its popularity and fondness by everyone, we’ve created an entire range of protea flower arrangements for you to buy online and send to your loved ones!
Protea Flower Care Tips
Protea flowers are a low-maintenance flower type and are easy to take care of. Whether you’re planting them in your garden or simply enjoying them freshly cut, they don’t require much attention. Cut proteas can last a good two or three weeks, but you should keep them in a cool spot so they don’t dry out quickly. You can use these flower care tips for some guidance as well. This means that the person you’re spoiling can enjoy these stunning flowers for a long time!
To send these flowers to anyone nationwide, all you need to do is log in to your NetFlorist account, add a bunch to your cart, check out and leave the rest up to us. No matter where they live in South Africa, from Cape Town to Kokstad, we’ll deliver your flowers to wherever they need to go. Don’t wait a second longer. Place an order and send these protea flowers online now! Plus, you can have a fat chat with them about these fun facts after they’ve received their gift.
