Proteas - seeds,sugarbush,growing,pruning Proteas Everything about proteas, buying protea seeds, protea pictures and protea growing instructions. Proteas are a family of shrubs with unusual and beautiful flowers. Most South African Proteaceae occur in the Cape, hugging the coast and mountainous regions eastwards to Port Elizabeth and spreading up the west coast to Vanrhynsdorp. The genera concerned are Aulax, Leucadendron, Paranomus, Serruria,Faurea, Sorocephalus, Spatalla, Protea, Diastella, Mimetes, Orothamnus, Leucospermum, Brabejum and Vexatorella .
Proteas are a part of fynbos.
They grow in variable soils that are generally poor with a predominance of Table Mountain sandstone, particularly in the mountainous regions. Proteaceae also grow in Bokkeveld shale which has a high content of clay. Some even grow in the other extreme of virtually pure sand, particularly along our coastal regions. The pH of the soils is on the acid side although there are some areas with alkaline soils with pH as high as 8,0. The Cape flora thrives under highly variable climatic conditions.