The Susara Protea is a captivating evergreen shrub known for its distinctive appearance, offering unique beauty to any garden. Its striking blooms and foliage make it a desirable choice for an exotic landscape, providing year-round interest.
Understanding Susara Protea
Susara Protea, scientifically known as Protea susannae x magnifica ‘Susara’, is a hybrid cultivar originating from South Africa. It is celebrated for its unique flower heads and often twisted foliage. This upright, branching shrub typically reaches a mature size of 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) in height and 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters) in width, though its dimensions can vary with environmental conditions.
The blooms of ‘Susara’ exhibit a rounded to slightly conical shape with bracts displaying muted shades of dusky pink, creamy beige, and sometimes hints of silver or grey. These bracts can have a velvety or textured appearance. The lance-shaped, smooth, grey-green leaves often show a subtle twisting or curling, providing visual interest even when the plant is not in bloom. Susara Protea primarily flowers from late winter into spring, with some sources indicating winter or autumn blooming depending on location.
Cultivating Susara Protea
Cultivating Susara Protea requires specific environmental conditions for healthy, vibrant growth. Susara Protea thrives in full sun, needing at least six hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal flowering and vigorous growth. It can tolerate part shade.
Well-drained, acidic soil, ideally sandy or loamy, is essential. Excellent drainage prevents root rot, to which proteas are susceptible in waterlogged conditions, so avoid heavy clay soils. If your garden soil is not naturally well-draining, creating a mound for the plant or amending the soil with materials like decomposed granite or small rocks can mimic its natural habitat.
Once established, Susara Protea is drought-tolerant. Newly planted proteas need thorough watering during establishment, but mature plants require less frequent watering. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings to prevent overwatering. For potted plants, daily watering may be necessary, but garden plants need less frequent watering, especially after the first year or two.
Susara Protea prefers mild to warm temperatures and is sensitive to prolonged hard frosts, thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11. While mature plants may tolerate brief, light frosts, younger plants may require protection in colder regions. Proteas struggle in high humidity, and good air circulation is beneficial for preventing fungal diseases.
Fertilization should be approached with caution, as proteas do not require heavy feeding due to their adaptation to nutrient-sparse soils. If fertilization is necessary, apply a low-phosphorus fertilizer sparingly in spring. High-phosphorus fertilizers are harmful, as protea roots efficiently absorb phosphorus and can be damaged by excess.
Pruning and Maintaining Susara Protea
Pruning maintains the health, shape, and flowering of Susara Protea. Minimal pruning is required, primarily to direct energy towards vibrant flowers and maintain form.
Pruning should focus on removing any dead or damaged branches. Light shaping can be performed after the plant has finished flowering to encourage bushier growth and maintain its compact form. Cut stems back to about 10-15 cm of healthy stem with leaves from the previous year’s growth. Avoid pruning into old, bare wood.
The most convenient way to prune proteas is by cutting the flower stems for use as cut flowers, as this encourages new shoots for the following season’s blooms. Pruning cuts should be made at a 45-degree angle above growth rings to promote multiple stems.
Common Issues and Solutions
Susara Protea is generally pest and disease resistant when grown under appropriate conditions. However, environmental factors can cause issues.
Root rot is a common problem, often resulting from poorly draining soil or overwatering. Ensuring excellent drainage and allowing the soil to dry out between waterings are the most effective preventive measures. If root rot occurs, affected plants may wilt and collapse.
Fungal diseases can occur, especially in humid conditions or with poor air circulation. Symptoms include leaf spots or discolored flowers. Good air circulation helps prevent these issues. Address any signs of fungal infection promptly.
Yellowing or slow-growing foliage often indicates issues with watering or insufficient sunlight rather than nutrient deficiencies. Pests are less common, but mites can cause abnormal bud development, and caterpillars can create holes in flowers and leaves. Removing malformed growth can help manage mite issues.