Protea Print

Proteas were named after the Greek god Proteus, son of Poseidon, who had the ability to transform himself into many different shapes—and proteas do come in an astounding variety of shapes, sizes, hues, and textures. These plants are known for their unusual and beautiful flowers, which seem rather mythological themselves, like blooms from an alien landscape—some can reach 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) across. Proteas are considered to be among the oldest of flowering plants, and from the king protea Protea cynaroides to the tall silver tree Leucadendron argenteum to the nodding pincushion Leucospermum cordifolium, they have the allure of another time. The species in the Proteoideae group are native to South Africa. More than 90 percent of them are only found in what’s known as the Cape Floristic Region, in a narrow region of the south and southwestern coastal mountain ranges that is considered one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. The area is also referred to as Cape fynbos, Afrikaans for “fine bush,” and proteas there are often called sugarbushes.