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Shrubs

Protea eximia

duchess protea

A large shrub or small tree to 4m, with robust, sparsely branched stems and leathery, glaucous, grey-green, sometimes purple-flushed leaves. In early summer it bears cone-shaped flowerheads to 14cm across, with red bracts fringed with white hairs

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Proteaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Protea are evergreen shrubs or trees, with leathery, simple, entire leaves and dense terminal clusters of tiny 4-petalled flowers, surrounded by large, petal-like bracts
Name status: Correct
Plant range: South Africa

How to grow

Cultivation

Under glass grow in a mix of 1 part loam with added charcoal and 3 parts equal measures of grit (or perlite) and peat substitute, in full light. Water moderately in spring and summer. Apply a liquid fertiliser of magnesium sulphate and urea, both at half recommended strength, once in spring and again in early autumn. Water sparingly in winter. Outdoors grow in poor, well-drained soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed or semi-ripe cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Mediterranean climate plants
Sub-tropical
Patio and container plants
Conservatory and greenhouse
Cut flowers

Pruning

See pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)

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