In the Field: Protea cynaroides – Kings

It’s safe to say we’ve been seeing an abundance of King Protea in bouquets and centerpieces lately. There’s been a little something for every ‘King Connoisseur’… bouquets featuring just a single stem all alone to lavish designs where they’re mixed with an array of awesome blossoms. And we figured if you’re as crazy about kings as we are, you’d want to know a few interesting facts about these chic flowers.

The artichoke-like appearance of the king’s flower-head lead to the name ‘cynaroides’, which means ‘like cynara’… the artichoke. The name does no justice to the beautiful blooms of this protea, which is the largest in the genus. There are over eighty varieties of kings and they're divided into groups according to their leaf type. The leathery leaves vary from large and rounded to small and narrow and their huge flowers can be wide open, almost like a 12” dinner plate or a narrow funnel shape. These flower heads consist of numerous small, tubular-shaped blooms or also called an inflorescence. Their color can range from greenish-white through soft silvery pink to deep red, with each variety having its own flowering time.

King protea are perennial plants that can survive many years in the wild. They also tolerate fires thanks to their thick underground stem filled with numerous dormant buds which starts to sprout shortly after a fire. Fires also assist with drying the cones and releasing seed, while the wind helps spread the seed and seasonal rain triggers germination.

Kings provide a rich source of nectar which attracts birds and insects of all kinds who in return are responsible for pollinating these awesome plants.

An Eastern Spinebill on a King Protea by Greg Miles

CPA Event: Banksia Barbeque

Aren’t banksia amazing? We sure think so, which is why we recently held a ‘Banksia Barbeque’ for protea farmers keen on learning about the intricacies of “bush-fire” seed extraction, and wanting tips on sowing and germination. This California Protea Association (CPA) event was hosted by Dave and Stephanie Baxter at their beautiful farm in Fallbrook.

Mel Resendiz, the CPA President, began by welcoming everyone and thanking the Baxter’s for their hospitality. Diana Roy updated everyone on recent protea marketing opportunities and provided them with a preview of the new CPA poster. Carol Booth introduced new association members and highlighted recent fund raising activities. Ben Gill discussed protea production in South America.

Then on to the BBQ – Mel’s presentation! Most Banksia plants are propagated from seeds and the cones must be more than 16 months old to ensure maturity. If the hard casing, when scratched, is dry and squeaky the seed should be mature.

Banksias have developed different ways of releasing their seeds, but they all require some sort of heat like HOT summer days, brush fires, a torch or as shown here - placed in a barbeque.

Once the Banksia has been roasted for several minutes and allowed to cool, the seeds are removed and are then ready to be planted.

Thanks again to our hosts Dave, Stephanie and their dog Skeeter (seated in front)!