Summer Protea Pairings

Ready to add allure to your day and seasonal decor? You're in luck. With proteas turning a centerpiece into mesmerizing display is a breeze. Especially right now as they’re zooming into bloom, and there's so many amazing species to choose from. This arrangement features Eximias that flaunts lovely shades of pink and burgundy, and Prionotes that boasts a bend of cream and orange. Both protea and banksia pair perfectly with vivid Leucadendron Safari Sunset and delicate flowering gum tree. And, for a textural touch a few stems of Grevillea Ivanhoe and Honey Myrtle are mingled into the fusion.

The results make for a spirited arrangement with a energetic-feel and put a summer twist on these amazing botanicals.

Eximia, which means distinguished, is sometimes called rosespoon, ray-flowered protea, and broad-leaf sugarbush. A large, colorful protea with spoon-shaped bracts of reddish-pink and soft central dome exposing a purplish wine color.

Prionotes or also called Acorn Banksia, Orange Banksia or Orange Frost. An acorn-shaped banksia in cream and orange hues that evolves from a small silvery-white bud. Its long stem and long, slender foliage contribute to its stunning texture.

There’s no doubt Safari Sunset is the most well-known leucadendron. This New Zealand raised hybrid cultivar, this mix of L. Laureolum x L. Salignum brings a rich look to floral designs.

The gum tree or flowering eucalyptus is one of the most recognized Australian plants. Many varieties of gum not only produce lush greens, in summer they flower too. They’re not typical flowers though, as these showy blooms are made up mostly of anthers and styles, rather than petals.

Quick Tips to Improve Protea Life

The demand for Protea has reached fever pitch as their sturdy stems and long-lasting blooms make them the perfect cut flowers. The family tree originates in South Africa and these blooms love sun and sugar, especially Eximia, Latifolia, and Dutchess varieties.

Contrary to popular belief, Protea are not tropical flowers… they are actually Mediterranean flowers, and they can be stored in a floral cooler, especially during warm summer days. Here are some quick tips to improve protea life: 

• Unpack the flowers immediately. 
• Cut up to 1/2 inch off the stems and remove leaves that will end up in the water. 
• Store flowers in a well-lit floral (protea prefer to rest with the light on) cooler or refrigerator between 43-50 Fn. 
• Removing a few leaves around the flower head will enhance the flower display. Note, some Protea are prone to leaf blackening and even with the best post-harvest care, it can still happen. So, if the flower looks fresh and healthy to you, just remove those leaves as well.
• Use a flower preservative or a teaspoon of sugar for added longevity. 
• Check water levels frequently as protea get very thirsty. 
• Keep then out of direct sunlight whenever possible. 
• With proper care, blooms can last weeks in a vase. Then, they don’t die… they dry beautifully! Many Proteas retain their structural design and to some extent their color. When used in dried flower arrangements or wreaths, they are as permanent as almost anything the botanical world provides.

Summer Alert: Protea eximia (P. latifolia)

It's eximia season here on the farm, and we're putting the spotlight on these gorgeous protea during the month of June. To help you distinguish between the eximia species (oringinally called Latifolia) and its newer cultivars, we put together this handy chart.

Eximia, 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, Susanae, Duchess and Sylvia. These improved varieties with brighter colors and better form, have kept eximia’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. Eximia look splendid mixed in bouquets, garlands or simply displayed by themselves.

From the 1st Kansas City NotWedding to an Elopement in the Woods Inspiration Shoot and more – Here are a few ways we’re seeing these fabulous flower being displayed.

1st Kansas City NotWedding

Elopement in the Woods Inspiration Shoot

Wedding Bouquet of the Week – Mon Cheri Bridals

Eclectric and Colorful Wedding

Protea Care & Handling: Tips From Chrysal

With alluring flower colors, exotic shapes and rugged woody stems, proteas are the new “It” bloom. The family tree originates in South Africa and these blooms love sun and sugar, especially Eximia, Latifolia, and Dutchess varieties.

The key to long vase life and minimizing leaf blackening is attention to temperature and processing stems into flower food, full sugar flower food. The best holding temperature range for protea is 38-42F. Cold temperatures and a well-lit cooler (proteas like to rest with the light on) greatly reduces leaf blackening.

Processing stems in flower food on arrival rather than selling dry from the box also limits blackening issues. Fill buckets with full-sugar flower food—Chrysal Professional #3, the same product for filling vases. It’s best to use the powder formula because protea like glucose and the Pro #3 sugar ingredient is 100% glucose.

What’s the difference between Chrysal Professional #2 holding solution and Professional #3 vase solution? The amount of sugar. Both solutions keep the water clean and flowing up to 5-6 days. Both lower pH to stimulate flow, but holding solutions (Pro #2) contains less sugar than vase solutions (Pro#3). Holding solutions are perfect for wholesale and retail display and wet-pack shipping, but protea, tuberoses and lisianthus are some of the exceptions—these blooms thrive best in high sugar solutions.

Many Thanks to Chrysal and Gay Smith for these helpful tips!