Protea punctata Seeds - Indigenous Endemic Perennial Cut Flower Fynbos Shrub, New

Protea is both the botanical name and the English common name of a genus of South African flowering plants, sometimes also called sugarbushes in Eglish and Suikerbos in Afrikaans. The genus Protea was named after the Greek god Proteus, who could change his form at will, because plants within this genus have such a wide variety of forms. The Proteaceae family to which proteas belong is an ancient one. Its ancestors grew in Gondwana, 300 million years ago. Most protea occur south of the Limpopo River. They are evergreen shrubs or trees usually found in fynbos. Protea blossoms make excellent cut flowers, keeping their colour for up to three weeks.

In the garden they do well in rockeries and also make excellent feature plants. An added attraction during flowering time is the numerous birds attracted to the plants. Other well-known genera of the Proteaceae are Aulax with brightly coloured pincushion flowers, Leucospermum also known as pincushions, Leucadendron with decorative woody cones and Serruria, of which Serruria florida, the blushing bride, with its beautiful pale pink flowers is the most well-known, Spatalla and Telopea with its unique bright flowers.

Protea punctata commonly known as Water Sugarbush or Water White Sugarbush in English and Water-witsuikerbos or Witsuikerbos in Afrikaans is a South African endemic species. It grows in the Eastern Cape Province and Western Cape Province. It is a very pretty and distinctive species with small, waterlily-like flower heads in colors ranging from white to pink (or both). Coming from inland, higher altitudes in South Africa, it will tolerate hotter and colder weather more than others, and blooms for a long period - from late summer into early winter. These rounded shrubs or small trees may grow 1.8 to 3.6m tall and wide, with attractive blue-green foliage.