Protea ‘Brenda’
Glossy ruby red feathery flowers on upright green shrub with ovate foliage. Excellent cut flowers. Gritty mix, no phosphorus. Prune early for bushy growth.
 Height | 7–9 |
|---|---|
 Width | 5–7 |
 Tolerates | Coast, Drought, Pots, Wind |
 Water needs | Low – Moderate |
Proteas are well adapted to our Mediterranean climate, making them carefree plants with bountiful rewards. After a few years, when your protea is established, it will want deep watering every couple weeks, though it will tolerate more if the drainage is excellent. Protea respond very poorly to clay soils, especially if they are overwatered. If you just have to plant one in your clay garden, mounding or planting on a slope can help. Also amending with liberal minerals such as lava or pumice helps. | |
 Hardy to | 25°F |
 Exposure | Part Shade – Full Sun |
 Plant traits | Flowering, Screen, Shrub |
 Indoor / outdoor | Outdoor |
 Drainage | In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil |
 Fertilizing | Bloodmeal, Fish Emulsion, No Phosphorus |
 Origin | South Africa |
Growing Notes
Proteas have evolved to live in very poor soils, and so they should never have phosphorus fertilizer, which many a grower has learned the hard way. If you give your protea all-purpose fertilizer, it'll likely be completely dead within a couple weeks. They do respond well to light acidic fertilizer, such as cotton seed meal, or nitrogen fertilizers such as blood meal and fish emulsion. Generally its better to sit back and see how the plant grows without fertilzier, which is typically not needed.
Stories featuring this plant
Garden storyThe Beautiful and Varied Blooms of the Protea FamilyAmong the proteaceae there is a vast variety of exotic flowers, and many of these plants have a long blooming season, especially here in coastal California, where the weather mimics their native South African and Australian coastal landscapes.
Garden storyProtea and LeucospermumOur growing grounds in the beautiful Rainbow Valley have been hard at work; both our stores are stocked with the widest selection of Proteas and Leucospermums that we've had all year! Learn which ones are available now, then get your favorites at Flora Grubb Gardens in San Francisco or Los Angeles.
In stock today in San Francisco
| 5 gallon | 1 available | $69 |
The above information reflects the observations of Grubb and Nadler and our extended plant community. We always consider input from fellow horticulturists and welcome feedback from those with additional information on the culture of this plant.
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