Protea repens
Protea repens, known as the common sugarbush and in Afrikaans as the suikerbossie, is an erect shrub growing in the southern regions of South Africa. Related to other proteas, this plant is a relatively adaptable and variable species and can be found growing widely in various soils. Due to its showy flowers and adaptability, it is a popular garden subject for use in wildlife gardens in South Africa. Etymology. The name of the plant family Proteaceae as well as the genus "Protea", both to which "P. repens" belongs to, derive from the name of the Greek god Proteus , a deity that was able to change between many forms. This is an appropriate image, seeing as both the family and the genus are known for their astonishing variety and diversity of flowers and leaves. The specific epithet "repens" means 'creeping', a case of mistaken identity, where Linnaeus used two different illustrated plates to describe the species: one was of "P. repens", and the other showed a dwarf creeping plant of a different species. Description. "Protea repens" is a dense shrub growing between in height. The inflorescences, ranging in colour from deep red to a creamy white, are borne at  the end of the branch, often nestled between two growing branchlets. Habitat. This species grows widely in fynbos on a variety of soils. Like many other "Protea" species, "P. repens" is adapted to an environment in which bushfires are essential for reproduction and regeneration. Most "Protea" species can be placed in one of two broad groups according to their response to fire: "reseeders" are killed by fire, but fire also triggers the release of their canopy seed bank, thus promoting recruitment of the next generation; "resprouters" survive fire, resprouting from a lignotuber or, more rarely, epicormic buds protected by thick  bark. "P. repens" is a reseeder, where its life cycle depends on its seeds which may have been stored underground by ants or remained on the old flowerheads. Ecology. This species' large showy inflorescences are pollinated by both nectarivorous birds and insects, such as the Cape Honeybee. Cultivation and human uses. Due to the large amount of nectar it produces, people have historically boiled down this nectar to make a syrup called "bossiestroop". This species is hardy to zone (UK) 9 and is frost tender.