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Protea subvestita
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Posted by bill_ri_z6b (My Page) on Wed, Aug 26, 09 at 15:30
| I have always liked Proteas, but they can't be grown where I live, as far as I know. But I have seen several references to P. subvestita which is native to very high elevations in South Africa and is supposed to be very hardy to cold. Problem is I have not found any place to buy a plant. Most California nurseries that deal in Proteas don't have this species, probably because there are many nicer kinds that can be grown out that way. I have found seeds, but getting any Protea seeds to germinate and make it to more than a few months old seems to be a real problem. Any help locating this plant would be appreciated. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Protea subvestita
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| You might try this very reliable SA seed company: www.silverhillseeds.co.za/ When we visited SA 2 years ago we saw P. caffra TREES growing at very high elevations in the Drakenbergs jwww |
RE: Protea subvestita
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| Judy, Thanks for the reply. However as I said in the first post, I have found seeds. I have tried several times, and although they germinate, the seedlings die off in just a few weeks. This seems to be a common problem with proteas. That's why I wanted to find a nursery that has the plants for sale. I did find a place in England, but they won't (or can't) ship to the US. |
RE: Protea subvestita
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Hi Bill,
Sorry, I don't have a source for Pr. subvestita plants. Like you say, the CA nurseries usually grow the "pretty" ones, not the tough ones. By the way, the hardier Protea species like caffra, dracomontana, and subvestita all come from the Drakenbergs (about z7). This area is summer rain, winter DRY, which can be problematic for us in the US. I have yet to actually try them outside since I want all my Protea to be quite established before testing their hardiness, but perhaps some sort of protection from winter rain/snow is merited. What kind of soil are you using to germinate the seeds? With the symptoms you described, I believe this could be your problem... Do you have a greenhouse/cold frame for winter growth? I have had 85% germination (and survival) of Pr. subvestita on my standard ZA mix: 3 parts quarter minus gravel, 2 parts perlite, 2 parts pumice, 2 parts orchid bark, 1 part Turface MVP. If I can get any Proteaceae to germinate on this mix, it has about a 90% long term survival rate. Germination is the hard part... Right about now would be a great time to sow seeds if you have an airy greenhouse. All my Fall sown seeds are bursting forth in the frost free greenhouse now that the nightly weather reliably dips into the 40's. Best,
Ross |
RE: Protea subvestita
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Ross,
I don't have a greenhouse, but I do have an unheated sunroom, south-facing, that gets into the 50's at night. On sunny days it can get to near 70 for a few hours during the middle of the day. I've only used regular seed starter mix in the past. Where would I get all the ingredients you listed? Are they common in gardening centers? You say you've had success with P. subvestita seeds and the plants have survived. Any chance you have one to sell? It would sure be worth it to me. By the time I order the seeds, buy all the mixture ingredients, etc. it might be just as reasonable to give you some money for one that's already on it's way. Just a thought. |
RE: Protea subvestita
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| I used a mix similar to what Ross described: 2 parts coarse river sand, 2 parts peat, 1 part perlite. Some of the proteas do require fire for germination. You can burn leaves or grass on the top of the soil or you can get a liquid smoke to soak the seeds in overnight. The liquid smoke comes in the starter packets. I have an unheated south facing area glassed in under my south facing deck. I also have vireyas (tropical rhodies) in there for the winter so I do run a space heater when it looks like it will fall below 39. I think that most of the cape origin proteas would do ok going to 30 degrees. When I potted up I used a cactus mix and it seems to have worked well. I use a light fish fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season. I keep them out on the deck in full sun in the summer. I would love to find Caffra seeds. I have great memories and picture of hiking in the Drakenbergs when they where just beginning to come into flower in late October during a major thunderstorm which drove us off the mountain all too soon due to dangerous lightening strikes. Ross....i notice we are almost neighbors as I live right across the river in Clark County, WA. jwww |
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