Protea cynaroides seeds (winter flowering)

Description

Picture thanks to www.silverhillseeds.co.za

This plant produces spectacular large blooms in shades of pink , and  crimson over the winter time. It is a hardy plant which tolerates light frost and poor soils. It needs well drained soils in a sunny spot to do well, and is drought tolerant once established.  Proteas make excellent cut flowers . Protea cynaroides grows well in coastal regions, where the soil is well drained and somewhat sandy.

Sowing advice

These seeds benefit from smoke treatment.  You can soak them in smoke solution which you can buy, or smoke them  for about 30 mins on a tray well  above the smoke source such as that made from grass and leaves using a kettle barbecue . Sow the seeds in autumn when there is a 12 deg C variance between night and day.  Sow them in pots or trays in a good quality seed raising mix, cover the seeds to their own depth with mix and keep moist. They take approx 1-3 months to germinate