Anyone tried to grow Protea in CA?

Has anyone tried to grow King Protea in Central California (Central Valley)? It sounds like they should do well outside here (climate's similar to their native habitat), as long as they're provided acidic, well-draining soil. My biggest question is, should they be placed in the ground, or kept in large containers? Any tips or words of wisdom would be great!

No words of wisdom but the San Francisco Arboretum has Protea growing in the Sth African section of the garden, so I would imagine that you *should* be able to grow them in the central valley. From what I know good drainage is a must. Good Luck!

UC Santa Cruz also has a nice collection of proteas,as does UC Berkeley, but they are of course a little cooler than you in the summer. I haven't hit the Davis arboretum yet, but if they have them too then you should be pretty safe since they've got hotter summers. I don't have anything from Protea genus, but I do grow a large number of other things from that family (Grevillea, Leucospermum, Leucadendron, Hakea, Lomatia, Banksia) and for the most part they do fine in my garden (my summers are probably not quite as warm as yours, but much closer than Santa Cruz/Berkeley/SF would be) I don't have extremely good drainage but I am pretty skimpy with the summer water and they've done OK with that, although I think Protea may be a little pickier about drainage than some of the other ones I have so if you have heavy clay I'd probably keep it in a pot. The other important thing to know about them is that they don't need a ton of fertilizer since they're used to growing in pretty lean soils, and too much phosphorus will actually kill them so make sure you watch what you're fertilizing with (I've been fine using Miracle Gro potting mix with some of the ones I have that I've kept in pots for some time period, I think the fertilizer levels in it are low enough not to cause too many problems, although if you can find a potting mix that doesn't have extra fertilizer in it that would be ideal)

I had a King Protea growing exceptionally well in the ground for 6-7 years. It was in a bed that bordered my elderly neighbors property.
My neighbor passed away and the house became a rental property. The new rental people had a penchant for over watering the lawn and the protea was severely weakened over one summer due to the excessive water. The following winter it died.

I replanted a protea in another location but it is not a king. It is pink mink and it is growing extremely well in this dry bed.

I have several leucodendrons and leucospermums ( protea family ) growing very well.
My garden is in northern Marin County - sunset zone 15-16 - normal low night time winter temps are 38 F - 42F average and two or three nights where the thermometer dips down to 28F for horticultural torture.

Proteas are grown commercially in North San Diego. 25 years ago a Retired Marine General used to bring large cut Protea flowers that included Kings to the Vista Farmer's markets. I don't know the the gentleman officer ever made any money. But there alway a lot of lovely ladies around his booth.

Temps in the Fallbrook area often drop into the low 20's.

They also grow Macadamia nuts there as do we a few miles south in Bonsall



This message was edited Aug 19, 2008 4:29 PM

When I first saw protea in Hawaii some 20 years ago, I was told that the parent plants had come from San Jose. A bit of research seems to say I heard wrong and it was San Diego http://www.californiaproteamgmt.com/history_of_protea.html
Here is what Sunset had to say in 1987 - YES, BUT http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1216/is_v178/ai_5279657
A good article from the Protea Atlas Project http://protea.worldonline.co.za/growcalf.htm

I think this is a Protea = what kind-don't know. It has a expanded from a 3" pot with nothing but neglect.

Another pic =

Yours could be Leucospermum erubescens http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/160483/ It is in the Proteaceae family.

Thank you Ecrane - it is growing all over from that small pot. How do I make cuttings and what do I feed it? It has produced one bloom this spring. It's been there for at least four years.

I've never tried any of these from cuttings, hopefully someone else can advise you on that. For fertilizer, I honestly don't fertilize any of the things I grow that are in this family--they are used to pretty poor soil and don't need a lot. Whatever you do though phosphorus is toxic for them so don't give them any fertilizer that has phosphorus in it.

Ecrane- thank again for the info.

Sarah - sorry for busting in.

Thanks everyone for your tips and advice. It sounds like its worth a try here.... they might just need a little extra babying (or more precisely a careful and delibrate lack of babying). I went ahead and started the seeds last week, so I'll try to update on how things go. It sounds like growing them is a long slow process.... especially from seeds. Anyways thanks to all for the help!!

I have a few of the proteacea here in Sac which is similar to your climate...Grevilleas do extremely well as do the Leucodendra- they all like heat and tolerate the aridity well. I am starting Banksias and Hakea and I would say that all the protea family members most importantly need fast draining soil and should be potted in cactus mix or perhaps even with sand mixed in the soil. No phosphorous fertilizers can be used as they will kill the plants...antidote with liquid iron chelate if they show yellowing or damage from exposure. I feed mine gingerly with a mix of blood meal for nitrogen and an Iron/Manganese product to acidify the soil as all proteas need an acidic medium. They appear to need more water than would be expected when young or the sun will burn the plants, and I have had to use a little screening to shelter from the late afternoon when the plants are young and delicate, but this should not be an issue once established. I enocurage you to check out the australian plant nursery in Ventura, CA, the owner there has a broad number of products and a great depth of cultivation knowledge and experience.

This message was edited Sep 9, 2008 1:45 PM

I have a Protea (cultivar 'Brenda') and two Leucospermums ('Veldfire' and 'Succession 1') growing in containers here in Salinas. I chose to grow them in containers so as not to expose them to the fertilizers used on my other plants (and I really didn't have a sunny patch of dirt to plant them in anyway). I use cactus soil without any fertilizers in it, and give them a very occasional dose of Lily Miller Ironsafe fertilizer, which contains no phosphorus. They get watered deeply about every other week -- the dictum is "water infrequently but deeply". In the central valley where you are, probably once a week would be better.

Have you had any luck growing them from seed? I found a site online in Zaire that said the hard-seeded ones (like one of my Leucospermums) need to have the seeds soaked overnight in hydrogen peroxide solution and then have the outer coats rubbed off the seeds before planting. They also recommend using "smoke disks" (little fabric disks impregnated with smoke essence) because in their native habitat, they tend to sprout most strongly following fires. You apparently put one of the disks in their water when you are trying to get them to germinate.

There's a nursery in Watsonville that you might try for advice; it's called Sierra Azul Nursery. They have a website. They've been helpful with advice for growing Proteacea.

Jim