Protea, Common Sugarbush, Suikerbos 'Guerna'

In 1974, a Proteaceae breeding program was started in Stellenbosch at the ARC-VOPI (Western Cape). (ARC stands for Agricultural Research...Read More Council while VOPI is from the Fynbos Experiment Research Unit of the Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute (VOPI) which is part of the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa -ARC)


ARC-VOPI was formed for the main purpose of research into South Africa's huge economic crops of Protea, Leucospermum, Leucadendron, Mimetes, Brunia, Berzelia, Nebelia, Phyllica, Erica, Ornithogalum, Babiana, Gladiolus and Watsonia. The breeding program's goal was to increase the economic viability of the change from wild crop harvesting to that of controlled cultivation. Their aim is to breed superior cultivars for the floriculture industry. Of great interest, Protea repens Guerna was the very first cultivar to be released. The first of many!

Protea repens comes in the usual protea colors from cream to a darker red. It is an upright bush that flowers freely, attracting lots of wildlife to its nectar laden blooms. Bees just adore it and the buzzing surrounding one in full bloom is incredibly loud. You can see over 20 bees in each flower cup. It can grow as tall as 15 feet but usually is about 8 feet, contrary to its name repens which means creeping.

For hundreds of years there were huge stands that grew thousands of Protea repens in the wild of South Africa which now have been cleared to make way for wheat fields and vineyards. It still is grown for the commercial florist trade where its flower is used extensively but now is cultivated in controlled farms.

It has a very interesting history for in 1780, it was the first protea to ever flower outside of South Africa where it grew in the most southern part. Kew gardens held this gem in their glasshouse. It also was the first protea to be exported and grown outside of So. Africa where it found new homes in California, Australia, New Zealand in the late 1800s.

It also has had commercial uses as firewood and also in making a cough syrup from its nectar called 'bossiestroop', or bush syrup. Each flower holds 1/2 teaspoon of liquid nectar at the base of the flower. This was collected to make this bush syrup for hundreds of years.

It is one of the easiest protea to grow for it is tolerant of heavier soils and a bit more frost (though frost damage will occur at 31 degrees) and is willing to adapt somewhat. You can propagate it thru semi-hardwood cuttings and by its seed. It has been used to create many fine hybrids. In common with other proteas, fungal diseases is the worst enemy to Protea repens and in growing these plants from seed. In the wild only about 16% of the seed survive.

The genus Protea was named after the Greek God Proteus who could assume many shapes because like him, Proteas come in so many different forms. The king protea, Protea cynaroides is the national flower of South Africa where most originate from the mountainous coastal land of Cape Flora region. They are now grown in New Zealand, Australia, California and Hawaii

Proteas will attract bees and birds to your garden. They are full of nectar and often are called sugarbushes. Some are so sticky from nectar, insects actually get trapped in them. They grow best in full sun where the days are warm and the nights cool. Generally protea like acidic, well draining soil. You can add peat moss and bark to a good soil mix or use a soil less mixture. Add perlite or pumice to increase drainage which is most important to have. Water moderately until well established then they are somewhat drought tolerant, needing only occasional deep watering. Most can tolerate temps down to 25 if established though prefer no frost.

Protea are not heavy feeders. According to the protea expert, Dennis Perry, they need much less fertilizer, about 1/8th to 1/4th of other plants. Proteas like to have sulfur, magnesium and iron available to them in higher amounts than you would ordinarily use on other plants. However, phosphorus and calcium is harmful to them, so select fertilizers that are very low in these 2 nutrients. Mr. Perry suggests using Epsom Salts and Iron sulfate as soil amendments. A slow release, low phosphate fertilizer in late winter and mid summer is best. You do not want to encourage rapid growth as this may weaken the plant.

Unfortunately, seedlings from species can be difficult to keep alive due to fungal diseases. Vegetative propagation may be easier. To propagate hybrids you need to take cuttings of semi hardwood in late summer and autumn. Many root easily.

Prune after your protea flowers, removing old blooms and shaping plant. Do not prune stems that have not bloomed for these are next years blooming wood.