What protea is this?

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

I saw these in town last week, proteas do quite well around here, these simply look stunning! Anybody know which ones these are?

[Jubaea]

It's a Leucospermum but commonly called Pincushion Protea. I don't know the cultivar or species but I kept one of these in a pot for several years and it went into the ground last September. So far it is doing really well.

[turfpro01]

Are any protea cold hardy to 20-25 degrees?

[Jubaea]

http://www.plantzafrica.com/ seems to have a lot of good information on South African plants including Protea.

[Silas_Sancona]

Definitely a Leucospermum cultivar. Thinking the Botanical Garden there in Santa Cruz has several species in their collection. Should be pretty easy to grow up at your place Axel, especially on the well drained parts of your property. Besides drainage, and full sun.. very little fertilizer, especially anything that contains Phosphorus.. they hate it. Also, don't let 'em freeze, not fond of that either, lol.

-Nathan-

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Nathan, these are all over town, definitely should be an easy grow for me, especially with my super fast draining soil. Proteas are a popular group of plants grown all over Santa Cruz, UCSC arboretum specializes on proteas. But I don't know much about the various species. This one grows in front of City Hall.

[David in Berkeley]

Leucospermum cordifolium, easy to grow, but not very freeze tolerant unless grown very hard. Leucadendron salignum cultivars such as Safari Sunset are much hardier, easily taking down to 25°F if hardened off in late summer.

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Whatever this is, it sailed through our week of freezing temps last December.

[Palm crazy]

  On 6/9/2014 at 7:49 PM, David in Berkeley said:

Leucospermum cordifolium, easy to grow, but not very freeze tolerant unless grown very hard. Leucadendron salignum cultivars such as Safari Sunset are much hardier, easily taking down to 25°F if hardened off in late summer.

David it right it really is leucospermum cordifolium orange. Actually come in red to yellow should be very easy to find in Cali. Turpro01 I highly recommend you look at http://www.australianplants.com or this one show their hardy list of plants. http://www.australianplants.com/plants.aspx?filter=true&key=frost&value=2 Well worth the drive to this nursery. Good Luck.

Edited June 10, 2014 by Palm crazy

[David in Berkeley]

Yes, Leucospermum cordifolium can take light frost if hardened off before freezes come, but is often damaged at 28~29°F if still in active growth. My point being, they are much better where it seldom freezes, as compared to many of the Leucadendrons. Cold at 25°F can kill the Leucospermums dead. Excellent drainage, full sun and good air circulation are important, and avoid fertilizing except with organics such as cottonseed meal and alfalfa meal. Don't cultivate around the roots, a bark mulch or fine gravel works well. Other true Proteas such as Protea 'Pink Mink' are also relatively easy to grow and bloom over a longer season. www.smgrowers.com has great cultivation information on the various Proteas, Leucospermums, Leucadendrons, Grevilleas, Banksias, Hakeas they grow. UC Santa Cruz Botanic Garden has a fantastic collection of the Australian and South African Proteaceae, and often have rarer plants for sale on site.

[DoomsDave]

Shoot a PM to Justin. He has oodles of Proteas at his place in Vista. Or did.

[Justin]

Looks like it might be Leucospermum 'Scarlet Ribbon'

[Palm crazy]

Here’s a nursery I found that claims they are the biggest protea nursery in CA. http://www.blossomvalleyprotea.com/plantlist.htm

[Cindy Adair]

I bought a leucospermum from a nursery in Claremont, CA a few weeks ago. Unfortunately it's already dead in Virginia..... Just not the right climate on top of shipping stress I guess.