Houseplants How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Protea Plants Proteas are lovely plants with unique and beautiful flowers, but they can be particular about their environment. In this article, gardening expert Melissa Strauss walks through the care and keeping of these interesting plants.. Protea (/ ˈproʊtiːə / [2]) is a genus of South African flowering plants, also called sugarbushes (Afrikaans: suikerbos). It is the type genus of the Proteaceae family. [3] About 92% of the species occur only in the Cape Floristic Region, a narrow belt of mountainous coastal land from Clanwilliam to Grahamstown, South Africa. Most protea species are found south of the Limpopo River. Protea.
The Greek god Proteus, the son of Poseidon, had the ability to change and transform himself however he wanted, thus, he could have one shape and then change into a completely different one soon afterward.. Proteas are among the oldest flowering plants on the planet, with fossils dating back 300 million years. The family takes its name from the shape-changing Greek god Proteus. It's large and diverse—there are more than 70 genera, which include large-flowered Banksia, spiderlike Grevillea, pincushion (Leucospermum) flowers, and even macadamia.