|
 Looking for something a little different? Then head out to your local nursery to check their range of Proteas and Leucodendrons. They’re hardy, easy care plants that produce spectacular flowers and winter is a great time to get them in the ground.
They originally come from South Africa and they're in the Proteaceae family like Waratahs, Banksias, and Grevilleas.
You may know them as the popular cut flower and that’s one of the great benefits of growing them. Birds love them too and they make excellent screening and hedging plants.
One of the varieties we featured on Prime News was the well known Protea ‘Pink Ice’ with its large heads of pink feathery bracts - it’ll easily grow to around 3m. We saw Protea eximia too with its pinkish apricot blooms backed by its handsome silvery leaves.
Of the Leucodendrons, we looked at one called ‘Pisa’ – with gorgeous bright yellow flowers and silvery foliage, as well as ‘Safari Sunset’ – the bracts turn a stunning deep wine red in winter.
These plants thrive in an open, sunny spot. They’ll grow well in a poor soil, but it must be very well drained, so mound your soil and you’ll get great results.
Give them a regular drink to start with, but once established, they really are quite drought hardy. Feeding’s not necessary, but if you do, only use a low phosphorous product, like one that’s been blended for native plants.
Mulching is important to keep weeds out because they don’t like any sort of root disturbance. Pruning’s important too - straight after flowering. That’ll keep them compact and highly productive.
I think Proteas and Leucodendrons are very special plants and I’m sure you’ll really treasure them in your garden.
|
