Along with Orchids, the greatest family of plants for me is the Proteaceae. Those outside of Australia maybe more familiar with the stunning Proteas from South Africa from which the family is obviously named after. The family also has a small representation in South America. But the bulk of the Proteaceae family is found in Australia, many of which are incredibly spectacular. This family is very widely grown in Australia. There rich supply of nector makes them very attractive to birds.

Here are a couple of mine that have recently flowered.

The first one is a Waratah. This is a hybrid (ShadyLady) between the spectacular Telopea speciossissma and Telopea oreades. The flowers are not as spectacular as Telopea speciossissma (which have to be seen to be believed) but it is much easier to grow. The gray plant with red flowers next to the waratah is another Proteceae, Grevillea lavandulacea. There are more than 400 species of Grevilleas and they are probably the most widely grown members of the family. They are an incredibly diverse genus that has also been heavily hybridized.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/emydura/waratah.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/emydura/waratahcloseup.jpg

This one is Banksia menzeseii. There are about 60 or 70 species Banksias in Australia and they all generally have flowers such as this. The flowers tend to look at their best while most of the spike is still in bud (red colour) but with a 1/4 or so of the flowers open (yellow colour). A sort of an acorn look. This particular species come from SW Western Australia where many of the most spectacular Banksias come from. Unfortunately these tend to be very difficult to grow for those of us who live in eastern Australia. They hate wet humid summers and poorly drained soils. That is why I grow it in a pot so I can ensure the drainage is perfect. I could never grow it in the ground where I live. I’m pretty rapt in this plant as it is not easy to grow and rarely seen in this part of the country. Many of the eastern species are very easy to grow however.

So if you find these attractive, try some in your own garden. There are plants for every condition. Even outside Australia, I’m sure you will find some if you look hard enough.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/emydura/menzeseii2.jpg

Most flowers still in bud

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/emydura/menzeseii.jpg

All flowers open

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/emydura/banksiacloseup.jpg


Here are a couple more Grevilleas

Grevillea excelsior

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/emydura/grevillea.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/emydura/grevilleacloseup.jpg

Grevillea Johnsonii

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/emydura/grevjohnsonii.jpg

These two aren’t my plants but come from the Bulli Grevillea park.

A lovely delicate species. Note the small miniature form of Banksia spinulosa at the base of this plant covered with old flowers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/emydura/Grevilleacopy.jpg

Lots of different types of Grevilleas.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/emydura/BulliGrevilleaPArkcopy.jpg

David

Beautiful plants! Thanks for posting, David! :thumbsup:

That is pretty cool how those flowers open up!!!

Those are very nice shrubs! :thumbsup:

very beautyfull:heart:

Wow, beautiful colors! Love the first and second photos!

WOW WOW WOW - I just love visiting foreign countries in this manner. Thanks for posting, what a treat!

WOW so interesting! They look almost cactus like! I would definitely love to try one in my garden...I'll keep an eye out at the nursery. How long do the blooms last?

WOW so interesting! They look almost cactus like! I would definitely love to try one in my garden...I'll keep an eye out at the nursery. How long do the blooms last?

It varies according to the species. The waratahs tend to flower all at once over about 3 or 4 weeks. Many of the Grevilleas can be continually producing flowers, so while the flowers last a few weeks they can have flowers on the shrub for many months. The Banksia flowers can last a long time. The flowers on banksia above have lasted at least 3 months. They opened up in autumn and as soon as the cold winter temps hit the flowers have almost suspended in time.

Your climate is very warm isn't it Teresa. If so, some of those spectacular tropical growing Grevilleas may suit your climate. The flowers are large and colourful and the plants are basically permanently in flower. This group has been heavily hybridised. They are easy to grow as well.

Like many Australian native plants you need to regularly prune them to maintain shape otherwise they get a bit woody. When plants such as the waratah and the Banksia above get too woody, it is time to pull out the chainsaw and saw off all the branches back to the base. They have a lignotuber under the ground from which the plant will resprout. This is an adaptation against fire where the plant above the ground is killed but it is able to regenerate from the lignotuber underneath the ground. You find that they grow and flower better by this harsh pruning every decade or so. Not all Proteaceae have a lignotuber though so you need to be careful.

David

Wow! Those are really spectacular! We dont get anything like that in Connecticut!

Ron

Protea are cool. When I lived in San Diego I had seen many different species in plantings. Wish I could grow them here.

WOW WOW WOW - I just love visiting foreign countries in this manner. Thanks for posting, what a treat!

:iagree:

Thanks for the beautiful pictures. I had friends living in Australia for several years, but I never got to visit them. I have always been sorry that I didn't. I went as far as checking on the price of airfare. That stopped me.

They certainly put on a stunning display! I've only seen single blooms as floral centerpieces - much nicer on the plant.

Shaun

They are really gorgeous, but for peoples who live in cold climate, they are quite expensive to get as single bloom.

Nice proteas!!! Don't you know that macadamia nuts are of the same family!:woohoo:

Ramon:D

They are really gorgeous, but for peoples who live in cold climate, they are quite expensive to get as single bloom.

They can be expensive here as well. Especially a nice big waratah flower. They could sell for $15-20. You can buy a plant for that much. People here have waratah farms just to supply the florists.

David

Wow...so exotic! awesome! :cool:

Nice proteas!!! Don't you know that macadamia nuts are of the same family!:woohoo:

Ramon:D

Well spotted. You get the Macadamias in the rainforests of Queensland. A more primitive Proteaceae. One of the few economic Proteceae species.

David

Thank you for sharing such beauties with us on SOF!