Proteaceae species for summer rainfall climates

Of the more than 360 species that make up the family Proteaceae in South Africa, all but 30 are found only in the winter rainfall region of South Africa, known as The Cape Floral Kingdom. This area, which stretches from Nieuwoudtville in the north eastern part of the Western Cape Province to Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province, includes the winter rainfall region of South Africa and those areas that are partially affected by this Mediterranean climate, and which often have their rain in autumn and spring, as well as areas which receive summer rainfall.

Despite the fact that Grahamstown, Bathurst, Port Alfred and all the coastal towns close-by are along the eastern reaches of this area, I have seen very few proteas being grown. Some 30 years ago my mom planted a variety of proteaceae in her veld garden in Bathurst, where they were grown wild, have self-seeded and flowered year after year. I needed to replace some of the older ones and turned to the experts for information. Many excellent websites and expert books later I found myself floundering in daunting and complicated information overload, much of which did not apply to our immediate climate.

To narrow the choices I compared species recommended for the Eastern Cape by Silverhill Seeds (Many thanks to Rachel of http://www.silverhillseeds.co.za), Finebush People (http://finebushpeople.co.za ), and those that have grown well in Bathurst. Here are the results:

VARIETIES OF PROTEACEAE SUITABLE FOR SUMMER RAINFALL REGIONS
based on a comparison of recommendations supplied by Silverhill Seeds, Fine Bush People and Kumbula Indigenous Nursery

(Underlined species refer to those that have already proven their suitability in Bathurst)

​THREE RECOMMENDATIONS:                                                                                               

Protea: aurea, cynaroides, eximia, repens, scolymocephala                                                   

Leucospermum: cuneiforme

TWO RECOMMENDATIONS:                                                                                             

Protea: compacta, lacticolor, lanceolata, longifolia, mundii, neriifolia, obtusifolia, susannae                           

Leucodendron: linifolium, meridianum, rubrum                                                                      

Leucospermum: cordifolium

ONE RECOMMENDATION:                                                                                              

Protea: burchellii, caffra, comptonii, curvata, gaguedi, laurifolia, lorifolia, lepidocarpodendron, nitido, pulchra, subvestita                               
Leucodendron: macowanii, muirii, spissifolium, coniferum, discolor, salignum, sessile, argentea, uliginosum subsp. uliginosum
Leucospermum: glabrum, conocarpodendrum, pattersonii
Paranormus reflexus
Mimetes cucullata

I have included some pictures of  the proteas from my garden, and some my mom painted from specimens that have previously grown here. With autumn peeking in at the horizon, planting time for  Winter rainfall areas, my next protea blog will cover obtaining and growing seeds. For Summer rainfall areas it is better to plant your seeds in spring.