Flower Library
Protea
Protea cynaroides · Proteaceae
Protea is the regal cut flower from South Africa. Huge, artichoke-like heads in dense layers. Sculptural, long-lasting, modern. Now present in Düsseldorf floristry too.
- Season
- Year-round
- Vase life
- 14–28 days
- Latin name
- Protea cynaroides
- Colors
- Pink, White, Cream, Bordeaux, Apricot
One of the longest-lasting cut flowers — fresh 14–28 days, then air-dries further and lasts another year as dried.
The variety 'King Protea' is the most famous — heads up to 25 cm across. Smaller varieties ('Pincushion Protea', 'Banksia') usable in bouquets.
In bouquets usually as sculptural statement element. 1–2 proteas and some greenery suffice for a whole bouquet.
Is Protea toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Mildly irritating
- Cats
- Mildly irritating
- Dogs
- Mildly irritating
Mildly toxic to cats and dogs. Ingestion can cause vomiting, drooling and diarrhoea. No organ damage as with lilies, but keep out of reach of pets to be safe.
Typical symptoms: Vomiting, drooling and diarrhoea after eating plant parts.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Cut at an angle, roughen the woody stem.
- 02Water medium-deep, change every 5–7 days.
- 03Keep warm and bright.
- 04Drying easy: empty vase after fresh life, leave bouquet standing — transitions to dried.
Frequently asked
- How expensive is a protea?
- King protea €8–18 per stem, small pincushion €4–8. Not cheap due to import distance, but per-day cheap due to long vase life.
- Are proteas suitable for wedding floristry?
- Very — especially for modern, untypical weddings. As bridal statement, main element in table arrangements.
- How long does a protea last in the vase?
- Fresh for 14–28 days — one of the longest-lasting cut flowers there is. After that it dries seamlessly into an everlasting and keeps for another year.
- Is protea toxic to cats and dogs?
- Protea is considered mildly toxic: if eaten it can cause vomiting, drooling or diarrhoea. It is not life-threatening like lilies, but best kept out of reach of pets.