Iconic protea flower relocates further inland as hotter, drier climate forecast

FARMER Nico Thuynsma gestures towards thousands of orange, yellow and pink proteas in flower and thriving 1 500 kilometres from their natural home at the southern tip of Africa.

- AFP

“They're all different,” the 55-year-old said on his farm in Cullinan, east of Pretoria.

The assorted blooms from the diverse Proteaceae family have 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,” 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 R275m, according to the Cape Flora industry organisation.