Sugar Bush (Protea mellifera)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Frost limit
- −6.7 °C
Cultivation
Requires a very well-drained light soil. This species is not very hardy in Britain, but it can be grown outdoors in selected areas. Plants tolerate temperatures down to about -6°c, although prolonged frosts, or frosts combined with cold dry winds will cause damage. A very ornamental plant. Many botanists see this species as no more than a synonym for P. repens. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance and should be grown in pots until they are planted into their final positions.
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in individual pots in a greenhouse. See notes above on soil requirements. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood. July/August in a frame.
Edible uses
The flowers are rich in nectar and this is often collected and used as a sweetener.
Medicinal uses
Antitussive, pectoral.
Habitat
Mountain slopes to 300 metres.
Native range
S. Africa.