Planting and Growing Protea In the Bay Area
Plants in the Protea family, with their stunning flowers and striking foliage, have found a home in the diverse Bay Area landscape. The Protea family (Proteaceae) include Leucadendron, Grevillea, Leucospermum, Banksia, and Protea, among others. Their unique blooms are known for their vibrant colors and intricate shapes, and can thrive in the Mediterranean climate of the Bay Area with the right care and attention. This guide will walk you through planting and growing Proteaceae, including techniques, watering requirements, pruning, and fertilizing restrictions.
Leucospermum ‘Hawaiian Yellow’
Planting Techniques:
Choose a well-draining location with full sun exposure — 6 hours minimum.
Protea dislike wet feet, so ensure the soil is well-draining and not compacted. Amend using pumice or another similar material, but avoid adding organic matter or compost.
If you have heavy clay soil, amend it heavily with pumice. Create a mound that is at least 4’x4’ and is a minimum of 8” high. Plant on top of the mound. This will aid in keeping the roots from rotting out in clay soils.
Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Place the plant in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Backfill the hole with the native soil, avoiding amendments, as protea prefer unaltered soil.
Planting can be done year-round in the cooler spots around the Bay, like Berkeley. Otherwise, plant your protea in the spring or fall, when temperatures are moderate. This allows the plant to establish itself before the harsh summer or winter.
Water Requirements:
Water your newly planted protea thoroughly, soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
After the initial watering, water deeply once every 7-10 days for the first growing season to help the plant establish a strong root system. The timing for watering frequency depends on your soil type and weather conditions.
Once established, protea are drought-tolerant and require minimal watering. Allow the top couple of inches of soil to dry out between watering to prevent overwatering.
Pruning:
Prune protea immediately after flowering to encourage bushy growth and more blooms for the following season. Remove dead flowers, leaves, and stems to maintain the plant's appearance and health.
Tip-prune lightly during the growing season to shape the plant and promote branching.
Avoid aggressively pruning Protea. It is uncommon for them to re-sprout from larger branches and stems. Prune more frequently and lightly only removing what is necessary.
Fertilizer Restrictions:
Protea are sensitive to high-phosphorus fertilizers, so avoid using them. Opt for a slow-release fertilizer with a very low or no phosphorus content (the middle number on the fertilizer label).
A small application of alfalfa meal and blood meal blends applied in late winter or early spring is typically sufficient.
Planting and growing protea in the Bay Area requires careful attention to planting techniques, water requirements, pruning, and fertilizer restrictions. With the right care, you can enjoy these beautiful, exotic flowers in your Bay Area garden.
a small selection from our typical offerings:
Leucodendron ‘Afterburner’
3-4’ in height, 4-5’ spread. Steely blue to grey-green leaves develop purple tones in cool temperatures.
Leucadendron laxum
4-5’ in height with an equal spread. The flowers on female plants are followed by rosy-pink colored cones.
Leucospermum ‘Hawaiian Yellow’
6-8’ in height with a wider spread. The grey-green, leathery leaves are tipped with red ‘teeth’.
Leucospermum gueinzii
6-8’ in height with an equal spread. Flower colors vary from yellow to salmon-pink. Often blooms throughout the year.
Banksia spinulosa ‘Schnapper Point’
Grows 2-4’ in height with an equal spread. Spikes of red and honey colored flowers bloom fall through winter. Deep green needle-like leaves.
Protea ‘Pink Ice’
Grows 6-8’ tall and as wide. Soft, furry, pink flowers, fringed with white bloom nearly year round.
Grevillea superba
Grows 6-7’ in height with an equal spread. The arching branches are tipped with clusters of light coral orange to apricot colored flowers through most of the year.
Grevillea ‘Sandra Gordon’
Grows 8-15’ tall as a large shrub or small tree. Hairbrush-like clusters of bright yellow flowers bloom nearly all year long.
Grevillea ‘Bonfire’
Grows 4-6’ in height with an equal spread. Small clusters of deep rose red, waxy, shiny flowers bloom heavily in spring, sporadically throughout the year.