Iconic protea flower blooms in Gauteng

SOUTH Africa exported over 10 million protea stems last year, but the country’s national flower is increasingly hard to find in the wild. Now, a farmer in Gauteng is changing the game - growing King Proteas 1 500km from their natural range.

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"They're all different," farmer Nico Thuynsma said on his farm in Cullinan, east of Pretoria.

The assorted blooms from the diverse Proteaceae family has more than 350 species in South Africa, from firework-like "pincushion" varieties to delicate "blushing brides".

He picked out a majestic pink and white crown, nearly the size of his head, that has taken four years to reach its impressive size. "The King Proteas are very slow to grow," the 55-year-old Thuynsma said.

The largest of the proteas, the King Protea, is South Africa's national flower.

It has lent its name to the national cricket team and countless brands. It features on the currency and is the logo for South Africa's presidency this year of the G20 group of leading economies, which convenes a summit in November.

It is also the country's largest flower export with more than 10 million stems sent abroad last year, worth close to R275 million, according to the Cape Flora industry organisation.