Protea repens (red)

Protea repens (red)

Family: Proteaceae

Common names: Sugarbush, common sugarbush, real sugarbush, honey protea, suikerbos, stroopbos, opregtesuikerbos

This is a sturdy, dense shrub, 1-4 m tall, with linear hairless leaves and fairly large oblong flowers ranging in color from cream to deep red either during summer or winter, depending on the variant.

Sowing instructions: Sow seed in late summer to autumn. Dust the seed with a systemic fungicide. Sow on a well-drained medium, firm down and cover with a layer of sand or finely milled bark. Seed can be sown in an open seedbed, or in a seed tray placed in a sunny position. Germination begins after two to three weeks. Once two true leaves have grown, prick the seedlings out into small bags.

Locality: Ex Hort. Harvest: February 2025