Protea cynaroides flower opening.

Stunning sequence of photos.... :o)

Wow - that it gorgeoous!

oh that is fantastic and how lovely for us to be able to see such a wonderful flower opening, thank you.

Excellent sequence!
It's great when you get something special to bloom for you - is this the first time?
My next big event will be my Tacca, or maybe the Bessera.

Thank you all for the lovely comments. Meanie. Its the 3rd time this plant has flowered the first year I had 2 flowers then 1 flower the last 2 years. Good luck with the Tacca.

So you have this one sussed then PA!
Chuffed about the Tacca as I bought it half price (still £15 though) as the flower was over. Six weeks later and I had two flower stems emerge! I was fully expecting nothing until next year.

Thats fantastic, i've always admired them but haven't had one as I was concerned about the overwintering, keep me posted please!

Great set of photos.

Brilliant photos!

I love the fourth picture - doesn't it look like a pregnant mum with her arms folded over her bump?

Lol :-0)

Brilliant sequence of photos...and you just answered my question! Thanks!

Wonderful lucky you. l have had a protea plant for 5 years it's very healthy but has not flowered. Whats your secret?

Thank you everyone for the lovely comments :-)
Pollyanna, not sure what the secret is, I keep mine in the greenhouse all year but with as much ventilation as possible potted in very well drained compost. I feed with a fertilizer with no phosphate in, and sometimes half strength magnesium sulphate as a liquid feed. I hope yours flowers soon, good luck :-)

Plantoholic, I will pick your brain about fertilising these lovely exotics, when I arrive in Africa and attempt to have them in my garden!! btw...I will also be looking for advice when I am back here and trying to make it all (...looking for the right word...) mine! lol!!

I would love to go to South Afcica and see them growing in the wild, one day maybe! could combine with a trip tp Madagascar to see my favorite tree the Baobab! :-)))
Will help with any advice I can :)

Thanks P! You might want to add Botswana to your wish list lol! There's an ancient and enormous Baobab tree, in Kasane, which at one time was the town jail! :)

!!!???!!!

True...it's at the back of the police station and they used to keep prisoners in it! Didn't actually see it myself, wasn't there long enough...:(( But there are loads of them in the bush...the locals call them, 'upside down trees' :)))

Beautiful! So lovely to see, thank you for sharing such a beautiful flower opening. That's what is so great about this site. I get to see flowers blooming that other wise I wouldn't.

Thank you :-))

Spectacular. What a beautiful flower. Thank you for posting.

Thank you :o)

Have just found these stunning photos, my OH is very keen to grow a hardy one outside, but I believe they can be fairly tricky, is that so?

Outside is not an option unless you have a very sheltered garden, mine is in the greenhouse for 9 months of the year. Pot culture is best then you can control soil type and feed.

Thanks for the info, we do not have a greenhouse......

Thats a shame they are a bit of a struggle outside unless your near the coast in a mild climate.
There are some fantastic Protea on Tresco if you ever get a chance to visit.

We spent our honeymoon there, we had others things on our mind than plants then lol

;o)))