Re: Protea longevity
- Subject: Re: Protea longevity
- From: d* f*
- Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002 20:50:23 -0700 (PDT)
--- Tony and Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz> wrote:
>
> What I really wanted to raise with you was whether
> you have any
> information on the likely lifespans of Proteas. In
> particular I am
> seeking information on P.cynaroides.
>
> A little over 45 years ago I raised a bush of this
> species from seed
> (the only one I ever managed) and have enjoyed it
> ever since.
Moira,
I would hazard a guess that wildfires are the more
usual limit to longevity for most Proteas in habitat,
similar to the situation here in California for native
chaparral species. Most proteas are therefore not
particularly adapted for long life in the wild, but
instead to taking advantage of newly cleared soils
after a burn.
Here in California, it seems to be our irregular hard
freezes which do them in. The once stunning
collection of Leucospermum species in particular at
both UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz Botanic Gardens
have never been replaced with the variety they once
had. I've several Leucospermum and Leucodendrons in
full bloom at present, I wouldn't be without them,
even though they are somewhat tender here.
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