Summer Alert: Protea Eximea

It's almost eximea season here on the farm and time to put a spotlight on these awesome blossoms. To help you distinguish between the eximea species (originally called Latifolia) and its newer cultivars, we put together this handy chart.

Eximea, which means distinguished, is sometimes called rosespoon, ray-flowered protea, and broad-leaf sugarbush. In addition, as featured above, there are several cultivars now being grown and harvested: Cardinal, Susannae, Duchess and Sylvia. These improved varieties with brighter colors and better form, have kept eximea’s popularity alive. The large, colorful flowers have spoon-shaped bracts of reddish-pink and a soft central dome exposing a purplish wine color. While summer is the usual time for flowering, some of the varieties can be found throughout the year.

No matter how they’re arranged, eximea are stunning mixed in bouquets, centerpieces and especially wreaths!