Protea nitida Seeds - Rare South African Shrub

Description: Protea nitida Seeds(Sow in autumn) Protea nitida, commonly known as the Wagon Tree or Waboom, is a large, slow-growing Protea endemic to South Africa. It is one of the few Protea species that grows into trees, and the only one that has usable timber; the wood was used by early settlers to manufacture wagon wheels, hence the common name. The trees will gradually attain heights over 15 feet, with specimens known to be over 30', and the trunks on mature trees can be nearly 3 feet across. The young, new leaves begin a wonderful crimson color, gradually becoming a bluish sea green color, and the large flower heads appear in late winter and are filled with nectar, which is highly coveted by nectar-feeding birds. Extremely rare in cultivation, Protea nitida requires perfect drainage in full sun. Tolerates coastal wind. Not suitable for growing in pots. Hardy zones 10a and above. Will not tolerate temperatures below 30 degrees. Each packet contains 7 Seeds with special smoke primer, a small zip-loc bag for treating the seeds, and detailed sowing instructions. Please note: The seeds that I ship are fresh and viable. Proteas and their relatives may be temperamental, and their seeds can be a challenge to start. When the included sowing instructions are followed closely, the success rate for germination should be high. I start the same seeds and have over a 95% germination rate. I have been procuring Protea seeds from South Africa, from the same source, for over 40 years, and have always been satisfied with their quality and viability! For best results, the Protea seeds (and seeds of their relatives) that are being offered are best sown in the fall - from late September to mid November. Depending on variety, seed to first bloom can take anywhere from 3 to 7 years. Sowing seeds requires cleanliness, practice and patience, and frequently have specific requirements and pretreatments. There is a learning curve. I say this because people generally blame the seeds or the seller for a failure in germination, when, in actuality, it is generally because of the one doing the sowing... With that said, I wish you the best of luck with the seeds, and if you have any questions with getting them started, please feel free to contact me - I'm here to help! I've been growing and collecting rare and exotic plants for nearly 50 years and sowing seeds has been a specialty. Most of the trees and shrubs that are growing in my 4 acre garden have been started from seeds; there is something very satisfying about that. All photos are of plants in my own collection - unless stated otherwise. NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING - SORRY - I ONLY SHIP TO THE US. I do combine shipping for multiple items - please request a new shipping total before checking out. Thank you! Upon arrival of the seeds/cutting/plant, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. I want you to be happy with your purchase and to have the greatest success in its cultivation!

Price: 9 USD

Location: Fort Bragg, California

End Time: 2024-09-19T03:00:18.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6 USD