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California Flowers
Stock
Larkspur
Hybrid Delpinium
Belladonna~Bellamosa
Bells of Ireland
Bupleurum
Cornflower
Leptospernum
Nigella
Protea
Queen Anne's Lace
Sunflower
Sweet William
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Click on individual Protea in photo for detailed
information. |
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| The name Protea is derived from the Greek god,
Proteus, who could assume different shapes. The colorful
protea flowers come in many forms from tiny dwarf flowers to shrubs
and trees and can range in size from two to twelve inches in
diameter. Discovered several centuries ago in South Africa,
these flowers are now being grown in California.
The peak seasons for availability are autumn, winter and
spring. Several varieties such as the King and
Banksia bloom
through summer.
Protea by shape definition are mass flowers which mean they grow
with a cluster of petals at the end of the stem. However,
because of their weight and unusual colors & shapes, they are
often used as form flowers. This means they are put in designs
to form a focal area rather than give the design weight or
bulk.
Protea are extremely eye catching and add great visual value to a
design if used properly. They fall in the medium to high price
range but are great value because of their lasting quality.
The foliage is grey causing colors in a design to advance adding
visual value. They have a long shelf life as a fresh flower
and will dry naturally to last for months, even years. Particularly long lasting in fresh floral arrangements, they
literally last for years as dried flowers. They dry naturally
and easily with no special handling.
They travel well due to their sturdy structure. |
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Seasonal
Availability for Protea
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Features & Benefits
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Heavy mass flowers that give great impact in design |
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Long lasting |
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Dries naturally |
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As a fresh flower, it carries a lot of weight and takes on an exotic look |
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Care & Handling Instructions
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| Protea Care for Shippers:
(For Immediate Shipment) Upon receipt of your
proteas, place them loosely in buckets of clean water with a
commercial preservative and place in a well lighted cooler at 36-40
degrees Fahrenheit before packing for shipment. After packing,
pre-cooling is recommended.
(If you are holding) Re-cut the stems
approximately 1/4 inch from the end then place them loosely in
buckets of clean water with a commercial preservative. Keep in
a well lighted area for about 3 1/2 hours. Place them in your
lighted cooler at 36-40 degrees Fahrenheit. Change the water
and re-cut the stems every three to four days. |
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| Protea Care for Retailers:
Upon receipt of your proteas, take them out of the box
immediately, Re-cut the stems approximately 1/4 inch from the
end then place them loosely in buckets of clean water with a
commercial preservative of your choice. Make sure no leaves
are under water. Keep in a well lighted area for about 3 1/2
hours. Place them in your lighted cooler at 36-40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Change the water & re-cut the stems every three to four days. |
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Protea
Descriptions
Click here for photo collage of the
following Protea.
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Banksia |
Long cone shape blossoms from golden yellow to beige
in color. A large and heavy flower which must be used in small
numbers or in large designs. Adds wonderful weight to a design
as well as great visual interest. |
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Discolor |
Similar to the Safari Sunset but smaller. Its
advantage point is the beige neutral color of the outside of its
petals. Very workable for creating pathways of interest
through a design. |
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King |
A very large blossom with an exotic powerful
look. Smooth petals with a more compact harder center.
Petals are bicolored from hot pint to beige. |
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Latifolia |
Very similar to Queen but smaller and petals curve
over the center more keeping the center from being as
prominent. More manageable to use in larger numbers in a
design. |
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Obtusifolia |
A bit smaller than Latifolia but much more red in
color. More compact with straight petals. |
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Pincushion |
A round prickly texture as its name implies, bright
orange in color. Small numbers create eye-catching focal areas
in a design. Good stem length for creating opposing lines
through a design. Adds great textural and shape interest. |
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Pink Mink |
The most elegant of the protea due to its blush red
petals with dark fur edging. Takes on a royal commanding
appearance in a design. |
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Queen |
A large blossom in vibrant rose-pink smooth outer
petals with neutral gray-white feathery soft interior petals.
A super focal flower. |
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Repen |
A medium size blossom of pastel yellow with hot pink
tips on the petals. Of all the protea, except for Blushing
Bride, it is the most feminine in appearance due to its color and
open soft appearance. |
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Safari Sunset |
A small to medium sized beautiful burgundy red blossom
with a hard smooth texture. Works as a superb filler or to
create a focal area. Usually comes multi-stemmed in a
bunch. Adds a bit of an unusual feeling to a design because of
its texture and design. |
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Silver Tree |
An elegant gray foliage. A perfect companion to
the flowers of protea. The leaves are soft & fuzzy on one
side and a semi-gloss chrome texture on the other side. |
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Skyrocket |
Similar to Pincushion except for color which goes from
a deep orange-red to a golden yellow. Although quilly like the
Pincushion, it has a softer fuzzy appearance. |
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