The Protaceae family includes more than 1,500 species,"¦ and what glorious plants they are! With splendidly colored foliage and unworldly exotic flowers, these plants will be a conversation piece for your garden.
While this family contains 73 genera, five are most common: banksias, grevillias, leucadendrons, proteas and leucospermums.
Most Protaceae are native to the Southern Hemisphere, with the majority coming from Australia and South Africa. It is sometimes a bit confusing when some people refer to all plants within the family Protaceae as "Proteas" This is incorrect, since the name Protea refers to one genus in particular.
The unusual plants that comprise the Protaceae family thrive in infertile sandy soils that are acidic. The most important thing to keep in mind when growing these plants is to make sure they have really good drainage. Don't fertilize them with anything containing phosphorus.
If your native soil is heavy clay, make sure you dig your holes extra deep and wide in order to providing adequate drainage. One of the most common causes of death among Protaceae is overwatering in heavy soil.
The best results can be obtained in gardens where mounds are created from really well-draining soil from a landscape supply establishment that sells potting mixes to nurseries. In one garden where probably 20 yards of sandy, well-draining soil were imported, some protaceae are averaging 4 feet of new growth per year.
Most Protaceae need a good amount of sun to flower to their full potential, though grevillias and leucadendrons are found to be more shade tolerant than the other genera.
Some local sources for buying Protaceae include Sierra Azul nursery and the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum, especially during its yearly plant sale.
| Leucadendron |
In fact many species of leucadendron are valued mostly for their colorful foliage and the way they reflect the light. They will provide color in your garden year-round. Besides the Silver Tree, check out 'Safari Sunset,' which has red-orange bicolored foliage and 'Cloud Bank Jenny,' a vigorous grower that changes colors with the seasons.
Grevillia
These natives of Australia are also grown extensively at the Arboretum as part of their "Hummingbird Trail" Grevillias are popular with nectar-feeding birds, as well as humans. Most species are fast-growing and very drought tolerant. Their foliage varies considerably between species, with some leaves needlelike, others fern-shaped, and some that are long, thin and delicate. Grevillias are especially notable for their hook-shaped curly flowers. My favorite species are Grevillia 'Robyn Gordon,' which sports numerous plump red flower clusters and ferny foliage, and G. 'Moonlight' with its wispy leaves and creamy yellow flowers.
Banksia
Another Australian native, the banksia is probably a favorite within the family Protaceae. Most varieties grow fairly large and have gnarly elephantine trunks. And oh,"¦ the flowers! What appears to be a single flower on a banksia is in reality a cluster of several hundred tiny flowers bunched together in a cylindrical form 10 inches long and 4 inches across. These clusters grow vertically from the branches and resemble giant candles.
The bees love them as they are loaded with sweet nectar, and you have to be careful when smelling the flowers, as you might possibly inhale a bee. The scent of the banksia flower is subtle; some have a delicious creamy-butter smell while others are sort of musty,"¦ not unlike the smell of old socks.
I remember one day at the Arboretum, showing a friend the banksias that were in full bloom. There I was, dashing between plants, uttering calls of pure delight as I buried my snout in the flowers, inhaling their scent, tasting their sweet nectar, my nose covered with yellow pollen.
All of a sudden we encountered another group that looked upon me with astonishment as if I were some kind of banksia-dwelling wood-sprite. One woman even cried out "Who are you?" thinking perhaps that I worked there as some sort of cross-pollinator or something.
Several different species of banksia can be purchased locally. Three of my favorites are Banksia serrata, B. grandis and B. speciosa — all sport flowers and leaves that are often used in floral arrangements. A note of warning: Banksias often take two to three years before they flower; one specimen that I planted grew to about 20 feet before it finally flowered.
Leucospermum
This South African genus, commonly known as the "Pincushion" bush, is highly prized for its cut flowers and, when in bloom, is quite spectacular in the landscape. A pincushion bush in your front yard will have people knocking on your door asking "What is that beautiful plant?" Sierra Azul has several handsome species for sale — Leucospermum cuneiform, which has a yellow flower; 'Spider,' which is pink; and 'Tango,' a deep orange.
Protea
Proteas are another plant from South Africa highly prized for their cut flowers, which are quite spectacular and come in a wide range of different colors. However, in my opinion, they take a fair amount of maintenance to look good in the garden. The shrub needs frequent pruning and shaping to avoid a leggy appearance, and they need frequent deadheading as the spent flower has a ragged look.
Proteas also require a lot of sun to bloom to their full potential. Because of the beauty and intricacy of their flower, this is a plant that you would probably want in the foreground of your garden, yet they grow fairly large so be prepared to give them a lot of growing space.
One last note: After this last bad frost, various Protaceae held up quite well. If you live in the rural areas, you might be interested to know that most of these plants are very deer resistant.
David Walzer is a local landscaper and owner of Earth Art Landscaping. He can be reached at 335-2801 or through his Web site, www.earth2art.com.
