FLASH SALES: discover new special offers every week!
Share your pictures? Hide split images
I have read and agree the terms and conditions of service.
Collector's item

Protea Susara

Protea susannae x magnifica Susara
Protea, Hybrid Protea, Sugar Bush

Be the first to leave a review

Why not try an alternative variety in stock?

1
€41.50 4L/5L pot
Available to order
€41.50 3L/4L pot
5
€41.50 4L/5L pot
2
20% €36.00 €45.00 4L/5L pot
3
€41.50 3L/4L pot
Available to order
€41.50 4L/5L pot

Schedule delivery date,

and select date in basket

This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

More information

A hybrid protea with a dense, nicely rounded habit, bearing beautiful flowers with pearly bracts in a very soft cream-pink tone, tightly clustered around a heart of stamens and punctuated with a small black dot in the center. Proteas are tender plants, strange and fascinating, which can bring enormous pride to gardeners who love challenges. Flowering in spring. Cultivation in large pots is preferable. Attention, proteas are technical plants reserved for expert gardeners. They have complicated cultivation requirements (soil type, drainage, and climate).
Flower size
15 cm
Height at maturity
1.75 m
Spread at maturity
1.75 m
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -4°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil
plantfit-full

Does this plant fit my garden?

Set up your Plantfit profile →

Best planting time March
Recommended planting time March to May
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Flowering time March to May
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Description

Protea Susara is an absolutely charming hybrid protea, with a dense habit and an exquisitely refined flowering in pastel tones. It develops into a nicely rounded large shrub and bears wonderful, cup-shaped inflorescences in spring, composed of pearly white-pink bracts surrounding a large heart of white stamens, with a small black dot in the centre. Proteas are rather tender plants, strange and fascinating. According to enthusiasts of these sometimes capricious plants, this is one of the most robust varieties. Cultivating it in large pots is preferable, outside areas with mild winters, not only to control the composition of the growing substrate, but also because it is imperative to protect the plant from the first frosts.

 

The 'Susara' protea is a horticultural creation resulting from the cross-breeding of Protea susannae and P. magnifica, the queen protea. The first parent, which hybridises easily, has passed on its robustness, ease of cultivation, and tolerance towards a fairly wide range of soils, while the second parent has given the hybrid its large pastel-coloured flowers, bushy habit, and increased hardiness, down to -7 °C (19.4 °F). Both are shrubby perennial plants in the protea family, native to the Cape region in South Africa, in a Mediterranean-type climate. Unusual in every way, proteas have seeds that can only germinate after a fire.

 

'Susara' develops multiple thick stems, well branched from the base. It reaches an average size of 1.75m (6ft) in all directions. It bears long alternate leaves, elongated and pointed, leathery, with the ability to absorb atmospheric moisture. They are light green, finely edged with purple. Flowering takes place from March to May. The inflorescences are large heads, carried at the end of each branch, measuring 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) in diameter. Mature and well-established plants can produce up to several dozen flower heads per season. The flower buds resemble magnificent thistles with pearly scales. The head opens after 1 month. The thin, creamy white-pink bracts, outlined by a fine deep pink edge, open to reveal a large, pale white to pale pink, silky and woolly heart, composed of true flowers. Each flowers bears a bunch of stamens and a filamentous pistil which, together, give the impression of silky fiber inside the inflorescence. The centre of the flower head bears a striking, black heart. The flowers attract many pollinating insects and give way to velvety seeds, almost as large as walnuts. The thick roots of this plant also serve as a storage organ. In case of fire, the protea is capable of regenerating from its roots, fertilised by its own ashes.

 

The 'Susara' protea is a sensational plant that does not leave anyone indifferent. Florists, as well as gardeners, appreciate the longevity of its often oversized flowers, adorned with refined colours. It prefers coastal gardens spared by severe frosts, with light, poor, and not too chalky soils. Well adapted to the Mediterranean climate, it tolerates poor to arid and inhospitable soils, and will look striking as a standalone plant, on vast slopes or as a backdrop to dry garden beds, as long as it is planted in a open position, in full sun. In the exotic garden, it can be associated with Tree Echium or Pride of Madeira, Puya, Euphorbia characias, Euphorbia mellifera, Giant Fennel, Leucadendron, Melianthus major, palm trees (Trachycarpus fortunei, Sabal minor), or even hybrid mulleins.

 

A unique 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. But Proteas have chosen a different strategy: they develop a large quantity of distinctive lateral roots along their main roots. These roots are called proteoids and are induced by rainfall, developing under the layer of dead leaves that covers 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 a water and nutrient absorption activity that is twice as high as "normal" roots.

Protea Susara in pictures

Protea Susara (Flowering) Flowering
Protea Susara (Foliage) Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1.75 m
Spread at maturity 1.75 m
Habit Irregular, bushy
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour white
Flowering time March to May
Inflorescence Flower head
Flower size 15 cm
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators
Good for cut flowers Cut flower blooms

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour green

Botanical data

Genus

Protea

Species

susannae x magnifica

Cultivar

Susara

Family

Proteaceae

Other common names

Protea, Hybrid Protea, Sugar Bush

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference834431

Other Protea

1
€41.50 4L/5L pot
3
€41.50 3L/4L pot
5
€41.50 4L/5L pot
Available to order
€41.50 4L/5L pot
Available to order
€41.50 3L/4L pot
2
20% €36.00 €45.00 4L/5L pot

Planting and care

Plant the 'Susara' protea preferably in spring, or in autumn in mild climates, in a very sunny and sheltered position. This plant requires a light, well-drained, poor, mineral soil, with a tendency towards acidic or neutral pH (6.5<pH<7.5). A mixture including leaf compost, a little bit of ericaceous compost or crushed pine bark, and coarse river sand or perlite is usually appropriate. Proteas are sensitive to excess phosphates and nitrates, so avoid giving them too much fertiliser, or even fertilising them altogether. A small amount of dried blood at the base of the plant, in spring, is generally sufficient. While adult plants can tolerate occasional frosts of around -7 °C (19.4 °F) in dry soils, young proteas should be protected from frost during their first few years, in a frost-free area in cool climates or under a protective fleece in regions with mild winters. This plant flowers after approximately 4 to 5 years of cultivation from sowing. For indoor cultivation, it is important to ensure good ventilation and to avoid watering with water that is too hard (some mineral waters or low-calcium spring waters are particularly suitable, have a look at the labels).

Planting period

Best planting time March
Recommended planting time March to May

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow
Type of use Border, Container
Hardiness Hardy down to -4°C (USDA zone 9b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Experienced
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Acidic, Neutral
Soil type Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Dry soil, poor, sandy, light, well-draining

Care

Pruning instructions To maintain a dense and well-branched habit, prune the tips of the branches at the start of the growing season.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time February to March
Soil moisture Dry soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Needs to be stored

This item has not been reviewed yet - be the first to leave a review about it.

Leave a review →

Evergreen shrubs

25
From €29.50 4L/5L pot

Available in 3 sizes

6
From €11.90 1L/1.5L pot
Available to order
€75.00 7.5L/10L pot
3
From €45.00 3L/4L pot
85
From €3.30 8/9 cm pot

Available in 2 sizes

7
From €34.50 4L/5L pot
6
From €7.50 1.5L/2L pot
5
From €49.00 6L/7L pot

Available in 3 sizes

6
From €10.50 2L/3L pot

Haven't found what you were looking for?

We only deliver seed and bulb products to your country. If you add other products to your basket, they cannot be shipped.