Protea eximia

Protea eximia is a remarkable shrubby protea that flowers in the mountains of South Africa, up to 1500 m (4921ft) in altitude. This botanical species is a little hardier than its cousins from the plains, and especially less demanding in terms of climate, which allows it to be more easily acclimatized in coastal gardens, planted in a non-calcareous and very sunny rockery. This protea is characterized by large, thick, and pruinose leaves, varying in colour from bluish to reddish, and very beautiful bracteate flowers surrounding a purple heart. Cultivation in large pots is however preferable, not only to control the composition of the growing medium, but also because it is essential to store the young plants as soon as the first frost occurs.

Protea eximia, formerly known as Protea latifolia, is commonly called broad-leaved protea or duchess protea. This endemic species to the Cape Province is found in all the South African coastal mountains, from Worcester in the west to Port Elizabeth in the east. In nature, it is a large shrub that grows in vast colonies, occupying varied habitats in terms of altitude and climate. When in bloom, the large stands of Protea eximia offer a breathtaking spectacle. This protea has great adaptability, allowing it to bloom in the ground even in gardens in Cornwall, at the southernmost point of England. All proteas are perennial shrubs in the family Proteaceae, native to the Cape region of South Africa. Strange in every way, they often require fire to germinate their seeds.

Protea eximia is a slow-growing shrub, sparsely branched, with a fairly dense upright habit. In the ground, in our latitudes, the plant reaches 2 m (7ft) in height and 1.50 m (5ft) in width. The stems bear thick and flattened leaves, measuring 6 to 10 cm (2 to 4in) in length and 3 to 6.5 cm (1 to 3in) in width, oval to elongated oval-shaped, heart-shaped at the base. Their lamina is leathery, covered with a whitish bloom that gives them a glaucous, bluish colour. The foliage may sometimes take on a reddish-pink hue. In our climates, flowering generally occurs in spring, or even in summer, with not all plants necessarily flowering at the same time. The flowers appear at the top of the stems. They are wide inflorescences, 10 to 14 cm (4 to 6in) long, in the shape of an inverted cone. Each one has 5 to 6 rows of thin bracts at the base, spatulate at the tip. These highly decorative bracts are silky on the outside, but brightly coloured from pink to red on the inside. The center of each inflorescence is occupied by a multitude of long flowers with a yellowish base and light crimson colouring at the tip. The flowering of proteas attracts numerous pollinating insects and gives way to some seeds almost as large as walnuts, velvety. The thick roots of this plant also serve as a storage organ. In case of fire, the protea is capable of regenerating itself from its roots, nourished by its own ashes.

Proteas are plants that are not very hardy, strange and fascinating, but the Protea eximia, if we are to believe enthusiasts of these sometimes capricious plants, is one of the easiest to cultivate. Florists, as well as gardeners, appreciate the longevity of its often oversized flower, adorned with refined colours. It will thrive in coastal gardens spared from heavy frosts, in light, poor, acidic to neutral soil. It will look good when planted individually on large slopes or in a large rockery, always in an open position, in full sun. In an exotic garden, it can be associated with Canary or Madeira viper's bugloss, Puya, Euphorbia mellifera, Leucadendron, etc.

An original root system, adapted to poor and dry soils:

Plants that grow in nutrient-poor soils often form a symbiosis with soil fungi that promote the absorption of water and nutrients. However, proteas have chosen a different strategy; they develop a large quantity of special lateral roots along their roots. These roots are called proteoids and are induced by rain, developing under the layer of dead leaves that cover the base of the plant. Rain promotes the decomposition of leaves, resulting in the release of nutrients. These ephemeral roots generally dry up at the end of the growth period. They have twice the water and nutrient absorption activity of "normal" roots.