Royal Mink just recently entered the Protea scene here in Rainbow and has done so in quite a regal fashion! Considered a hybrid queen, this protea is a blend of magnifica or queen and neriifolia. This majestic bloom has a medium-to-large flowering head with a velvety touch and Parisian flair… obviously accenting its neriifolia influence. The floral bracts are rose pink and fringed with white and black feathery tips, then shading to cream at the base. The central dome has a woolly black and white pattern and is heavily tipped with black, providing for a strong and interesting contrast as it is so beautifully displayed on a long, sturdy stem.
Royal Minks looks great mixed with other protea or combined with an array of other colorful flowers and foliage. Here's are just some of the lovely ways we've found her being displayed!
A luxurious Protea King is the crowning glory of a design or bouquet - these chic beauties offer an enchanting world filled with color, texture, and sizes to try. But not all Kings are created equal. In fact, some varieties are so special, they take nearly a decade to create. Such is the case for the voguish Arctic Ice, a magnificent White King Protea which has proven to be one of the most popular cultivars of this coloring of the king protea. The large flower heads are almost dinner plate in size with serrated edges much like a king’s crown. A mature plant can reach up to 5 feet in height and produce up to 50 blooms a year.
The King Protea is the national flower of South Africa — but they have been grown commercially here in California for 50 years. If you’re as crazy about these majestic flowers as we are, we suggest spending a little time in this Cynaroides’ realm.
Lady Di has just recently entered the Protea scene here in California and has done so in royal fashion! Considered a hybrid queen, this flower is a blend of P. magnifica (queen) and P. compacta. Lady Di has a medium-to-large bloom with a soft, velvety-pink appearance, obviously more compacta influence and lacking the woolly beards of the magnifica. The long floral bracts are plush and tipped in delicate white fur, then shading to cream at the base. The central peaked dome is silvery-pink, providing for a subtle yet noble combination. Lady Di blooms winter through early spring.
When harvested and mixed with other protea, there’s no doubt Lady Di is majestic!
