Protea cynaroides "Summer" Seeds - Rare South African Shrub

Description: Protea cynaroides "Summer" Seeds(Sow in autumn) This distinctive member of the Protea family, (the Proteaceae), has the largest flower head in the genus Protea and is the national flower of South Africa. Also known as the King Sugar Bush, King Protea and Honey Pot, Protea cynaroides is widely distributed in the southwestern and southern parts of South Africa in the Fynbos region. The stunning blooms are extremely heavy and are soft pink on the outside, and silvery cream and blue inside. In its native habitat, the flowers will appear sporadically throughout the year, as they may also do here in California. This particular form tends to have its main bloom season in summer. The attractive shrub's glossy foliage is slightly leathery, 5", dark green and usually edged in red. The shrubs grow to approximately 4' tall and 5 to 6' across. Hardy zones 9 and above (8 with some protection). Not suitable for growing in pots. Requires excellent air movement - will even tolerate coastal wind. The genus name honors the Greek Sea God, Proteus, who had the power to assume a great diversity of shapes - a reference to the diversity within this wonderful genus. Each packet contains 7 Seeds with special smoke primer, a small zip-loc bag for treating the seeds, and detailed sowing instructions. Please note: The seeds that I ship are fresh and viable. Proteas and their relatives may be temperamental, and their seeds can be a challenge to start. When the included sowing instructions are followed closely, the success rate for germination should be high. I start the same seeds and have over a 95% germination rate. I have been procuring Protea seeds from South Africa, from the same source, for over 40 years, and have always been satisfied with their quality and viability! For best results, the Protea seeds (and seeds of their relatives) that are being offered are best sown in the fall - from late September to mid November. Depending on variety, seed to first bloom can take anywhere from 3 to 7 years. Sowing seeds requires cleanliness, practice and patience, and frequently have specific requirements and pretreatments. There is a learning curve. I say this because people generally blame the seeds or the seller for a failure in germination, when, in actuality, it is generally because of the one doing the sowing... With that said, I wish you the best of luck with the seeds, and if you have any questions with getting them started, please feel free to contact me - I'm here to help! I've been growing and collecting rare and exotic plants for nearly 50 years and sowing seeds has been a specialty. Most of the trees and shrubs that are growing in my garden have been started from seeds; there is something very satisfying about that. All photos are of plants in my own collection - unless stated otherwise. NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING - SORRY - I ONLY SHIP TO THE US. I do combine shipping for multiple items - please request a new shipping total before checking out. Thank you! Upon arrival of the seeds/cutting/plant, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. I want you to be happy with your purchase and to have the greatest success in its cultivation!

Price: 9 USD

Location: Fort Bragg, California

End Time: 2024-08-19T02:57:28.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6 USD