Flower Facts
Curious about these magical Maui Protea® flowers?
Come along with Jim Heid, one of the world’s leading experts on Protea as he shares a bit of his knowledge with you….Protea Floral Index >>> |
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Haleakala Crater rising above Kula Vista Protea Farm where our Maui Protea
flowers enjoy one of the best views on Maui!
Jim began commercial propagation of Maui Protea® on Maui in 1977, importing hundreds of species from Australia and South Africa. After planting nearly 30,000 Maui Protea® field plants over a 10 year period, Jim selected the most vigorous and unique varieties which were planted at Kula Vista Protea, Hawaii’s largest Protea farm, home to the world famous Maui Proteaflowers. Covering 80 acres on the gentle slopes of Haleakala Crater, Jim’s coveted selections have found the perfect home.
Warm days accompanied by cooling afternoon clouds protect the colorful bracts and also create naturally long stems. Cool downward drafts of air from atop the 10023 foot summit of Haleakala make for a temperature variation of approximately 25ƒ between day and night. This is necessary to set the buds for future Maui Proteaflowers. But that’s only half of it, being located on the side of a mountain the roots are blessed with the perfect drainage, and the soil is the same acidic type found in their natural habitat of South Africa. Protea has found a very happy second home on this beautiful island of Maui, and we are pleased to be able to ship these Hawaiian flowers for you!
Ancient History – Modern Flower
“Prehistoric” ” Dinosaur like” ” Out of this World” ” Star Wars Flowers” These are some of the comments people make when seeing Maui Protea® flowers for the first time, and they are more accurate than they know. The ancestors of Protea plants date back over 100 million years, and are therefore considered one of the oldest plant families on Earth. We like to imagine they will still be blooming 100 million years from now.
Carl Linnaeus, the father of modern botany and plant taxonomy named this family of flowers in 1735. In Greek mythology, Proteus, a demigod, had the ability to change shape and form at will; hence the name given to this family of flowers with its diverse array of colors, shapes, textures and sizes.
Joseph Banks, the botanist who traveled with Captain Cook, discovered a separate genus of the Protea family while in Australia, thus the name Banksia for the varieties that grow there.
Continue on and learn about the different types of Proteaceae we grow and ship for you…
The scientific name of each variety is shown in italics
Peak blooming seasons for Maui Protea® shown as pink boxes below the description for each flower with the lighter pink boxes signifying fewer blooms per bush in those months.
| King Protea “The King of all Flowers” – Cynaroides |
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Predominately pink in color, there are a few select bushes which produce dark red and almost white kings, but these are rare. The average size of the head is 6 inches across! We also grow “baby kings” which measure approx. 4″ across. The leaves are dark green with a waxy finish. |
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| The next 5 flowers are nicknamed “minks” for their furry and feathery tops. Along with floral arrangements, the mink flowers make cute Maui Protea® dolls when dried and crafted. |
| Mayday – P. Neriifolia x magnifica |
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Layered feathered bracts with a deep rich pink color turning to soft white tips. The head is 3 /12 ” to 5″ long and approx. 3 1/2″ wide. |
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| Niobe – Protea nerifolia x laurifolia |
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Bracts are light lime green to silver with the tip of each bract topped with a furry purplish black tip. A very striking and very full bodied mink. Flower head is 3 to 3 1/2 ” long and 1 1/2 to 2 ” wide. |
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| Black Beard – Protea lepidocarpodendron |
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Feathered bracts are almost entirely deep black with a flat top, rising out of a cream colored base. Heads are 3″ to 3 1/2″ long and 1 1/2 ” to 2 ” in diameter |
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| Rose Mink – Protea laurifolia |
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Layered feathered bracts with a deep rich pink color turning to soft white tips. The head is 3 /12 ” to 5″ long and approx. 3 1/2″ wide. |
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| Pink Ice – Protea hybrid |
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While not considered a furry mink, the shape is the same with bracts that are a rich solid frosted pink in appearance. Flower heads are approx 3″ to 3 1/2″ long and 1 1/2″ to 2″ in diameter |
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| The next two flowers are called pincushions, named after the way they look like a, well, pincushion, although most people tend to think they look like fireworks. These are the two predominant varieties we grow, but here on Maui, the University of Hawaii has hybridized some remarkable shapes and colors that we will be growing in the not too distant future. |
| High Gold – Leucosperum hybrid yellow |
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Bright yellow pincushion flower head with individual styles springing open as they mature, starting from the bottom of the flower. 2″ to 2 1/2″ long and wide. |
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| Red Pincushion – Leucospermum Lineare |
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Layered bracts with a deep rich pink color turning to soft white tips. The head is 3 /12 ” to 5″ long and approx. 3 1/2″ wide. |
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| The following 6 flowers are in the Banksia genus originally from Australia. |
| Orange Frost – Banksia Prionotes |
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This large cone is predominately soft white with the bottom 1/3 ring a bright orange. The leaves are a long rickrack foliage ( looks as though they were cut with a pinking shears). The average length of the flower is 3″ to 6″ long and 1 1/2″ to 2″ wide. |
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| Mint Julep – Banksia Speciosa |
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This large cone is predominately green with a white hue, the bottom 1/3 ring opens to a creamy green/yellow color. The leaves are long and have the rickrack shape, they are a muted green/ silver color. The flower head is 3″ to 5″ long and 1 1/2″ to 2″ wide. |
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| Scarlet Ribbon – Banksia Coccinea |
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Bright red plastic like wires form the head of this flower. Each style will spring open as the flower matures, changing the overall look of the flower from rounded to spiked. The head size is 2″ to 2 1/2 ” long and 1 1/2″ to 2″ wide. |
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| Birds Nest – Banksia Baxterii |
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A compact, sturdy lime green flower head nestled in bright green rickrack leaves.The bottom ring of the flower open to a chartreuse color. The flower head is 2 1/2″ long and 2 to 2 1/2″ wide |
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| Raspberry Frost – Banksia Menziesii |
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A wine colored large cone with silver stripes on the outside, the bottom ring opens to yellow. The leaves are serrated and colored a silver blue green. The flower head is 3″ to 4″ long and 1 1/2″ to 2 1/2″ wide. |
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| Bottle Brush – Banksia Occidentalis |
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This flower resembles a baby bottle brush. It has a soft yellow inside opening to a light red. The leaves are very thin, soft and needlelike. The head measures 2 1/2″ to 3″ long and 1 1/2″ wide. |
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| The next two are considered specialty protea. |
Golden Emperor – Dryandra Formosa
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This flower is primarily used for table baskets, wreaths, dried arrangements and dolls. It has a bright golden button type flower surrounded by serrated green foliage. The button is 1″ to 1 1/2″ in diameter. |
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| Waratah – Telopea |
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The national flower of New South Wales, Australia, this flower has a crimson red pincushion effect. It is very striking especially since it is surrounded by deep green waxy leaves. The flower head is 2″ to 3″ long and wide. |
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| The next three varieties of protea are primarily used for foliage although each produces a flower, but we use them more for their beautiful stems. |
| Safari Sunset – Leucadendron |
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The flowers are actually an insignificant cone surrounded by large colorful bracts which are often mistaken for the flower itself. Deep wine colored. |
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| Jester – Leucadendron |
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A variegated Safari Sunset, the Jester has green mid rib leaves surrounded by deep wine colored margins. Very dramatic, but unfortunately only a limited supply. |
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| Integrifolia – Banksia Integrifolia |
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Dark green thin holly like foliage, with silvery color underneath. They make a perfect balance to the flowers in bouquets and baskets, and a wonderful backing for wreaths. |
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