🌺 Protea Sylvia

Botanical Name: Protea ‘Sylvia’
Common Names: Protea Sylvia, Pink Protea
Plant Type: Indigenous flowering shrub (fynbos plant)

---

📌 Product Description

Protea ‘Sylvia’ is a striking indigenous protea cultivar prized for its large, deep pink flower heads with silvery-pink bracts and a dramatic central dome. It is a robust, free-flowering variety that performs well in gardens and is widely used in the cut-flower industry.

This protea makes an excellent feature plant, adding bold texture and colour to indigenous, coastal and water-wise gardens. Its long-lasting blooms are also ideal for floral arrangements.

---

📏 Size When Fully Grown

• Height: approx. 2 – 3 m
• Width: approx. 2 – 3 m
• Growth Habit: Rounded, upright shrub with a strong woody framework

(Plant size can be managed with light pruning after flowering.)

---

🌱 Best Growing Conditions

• Sunlight: Full sun (essential for flowering)
• Soil:
  • Well-drained, sandy or acidic soil
  • Low-phosphorus soil (avoid composts or fertilisers high in phosphates)
• Water:
  • Moderate watering during establishment
  • Drought-tolerant once established
  • Do not overwater or allow roots to sit in wet soil
• Feeding:
  • Minimal feeding; use fynbos-specific fertiliser only if necessary
• Maintenance:
  • Light pruning after flowering to maintain shape
  • Remove spent flower heads to encourage new growth

---

🌦️ Planting & Growing Season (South Africa)

• Best Planting Time:
  • Autumn to early winter (March – June)
  • This allows roots to establish before summer heat
• Flowering Season:
  • Mainly winter to spring, depending on climate and location
• Climate Suitability:
  • Ideal for Mediterranean, coastal and mild inland regions
  • Frost-sensitive when young; protect in colder areas

---

🌿 Additional Benefits

• Indigenous and water-wise
• Attracts birds and pollinators
• Excellent cut-flower protea with long vase life
• Low-maintenance once established

---

🌍 Ideal Uses

✔ Feature plant in gardens
✔ Indigenous & fynbos gardens
✔ Coastal landscapes
✔ Cut-flower production
✔ Large containers with excellent drainage