Flower symbolism is interesting because it can give us an idea about the history of a certain flower. Flowers have been used as symbols for various things and their value is extraordinary for people.
They are not only beautiful decorative pieces for our gardens and back yards, they can also tell us so many interesting stories that we could never think of.
Flowers have been used as symbols for centuries. Ancient cultures used them to celebrate important events and ceremonies and their presence certainly added a lot to the importance of the ceremony. Flowers were there to help us express our deepest emotions for the ones who were dear to us and to symbolize sadness for the people we lost.
In today’s text we will look deeper into the symbolic meaning of the Protea flower and the meaning it hides. This unusual flower has definitely an interesting background, so if you are interested to find out more let’s go ahead and look deeper into it.
Meaning of the Protea Flower
Meaning of a flower is influenced largely by its historical background and the way people saw it in the past. Many stories and interesting symbolic meanings have been linked to meanings of flowers and they are something that has persevered until today.
Flower symbolism and meaning is interesting to us not only because of the historical value, but also because we should learn more about a flower if we want to gift it to someone important. You certainly don’t want to gift someone a flower which expresses something far away from the message you have been meaning to send.
- Diversity
- Courage
- Daring
- Transformation
Diversity – The Protea flower is certainly different and it stands out from the crowd. This unusual flower is attracting attention no matter how beautiful the other flowers next to it are. There is simply something beautiful and mysterious about its appearance and it is a perfect gift for someone equally unique.
Courage – Gifting someone the Protea flower is also a symbol of courage. This flower symbolizes overcoming obstacles and finding courage inside of you to make a difference in the world. This flower has a very strong message.
Daring – The appearance of the Protea flower is daring enough, so we don’t have to add anything else to this definition. Protea flowers are simply symbols of someone’s daring nature and boldness that simply shines through and can’t be denied by anyone.
Transformation – This meaning is linked to the blooming character of the Protea flower and it can be interpreted as a symbol of changing and becoming someone different and better.
Protea Flower – Etymological meaning
Protea flower belongs to the proteaceae family and this flower has a lot of different verities inside of its family. These varieties come in almost all shapes and sizes and colors. The name Protea comes from the Greek name Proteus. Proteus was Poseidon’s son who had the tendency to often change his shape and appearance in order to avoid detection.
The reason why this flower got such a name was exactly because it had a large number of different flowers inside of its family and the name seemed appropriate.
Protea Flower – Symbolism
The Proteus flower is mostly linked to two main legends or symbolical meanings. One of them comes from South Africa and the other one comes from Greece. In the first legend that comes from South Africa, the beautiful protea flower got its name because of its interesting peals. The flower petals reminded the South Africans of a crown, so decided to give this flower the name Protea.
This flower is also the national flower of South Africa. In ancient Greece, Poseidon’s (God of the Sea) son, Proteus, had the tendency to transform himself in order to avoid recognition. The Protea flower has many varieties of different flowers, which come in all shapes and sizes and this is the main reason why the Protea flower got its name associated with Proteus.
Protea Flower – Color meaning
Colors of the flower can add so much to the overall symbolic meaning of the flower. Colors are not only there to brighten up our world, they are also there to give a much greater symbolic meaning to the flower. They can perfectly compliment the general symbolic meaning of a flower or give it a completely different symbolism.
The Protea flower comes in several colors and they are:
White
- The white Protea flower is a symbol of pure spirit, honesty and integrity. This beautiful flower is a great way to say someone you trust them completely and that their presence in your life is important.
Purple
- The purple color Protea flower is a symbol of charm, grace, mystery and royalty. The purple Protea flower is a great gift for someone who is a perfect reflection of these traits.
Red
- The red Protea flower is a symbol of passion and love for someone close to you. This gorgeous flower is a perfect change if you want to gift your loved one something different for Valentine’s Day.
Orange
- Color orange is a symbol of happiness, joy and cheerfulness. This optimistic color goes perfectly with the peculiar appearance of the Protea flower and is a great gift for anyone you love.
Yellow
- Yellow symbolizes trust, compassion and trust. The yellow Protea flower is a perfect gift for a friend and someone who earned your trust completely.
Green
- The green Protea flower is a symbol of harmony and good fortune. This flower color is perfect gift for anyone and you can even place it inside your home to invite these good vibes.
Protea Flower – Botanical facts and characteristics
Protea species belong to the Proteaceae family originating in southern Africa or Australia. These are the shrubs of evergreen plants of large blooms.
The most beautiful species of this family belong to the genus Protea, which are the most famous royal Protea-Protea cyanides. It was named after the Greek god Proteus, and was proclaimed the national flower of southern Africa. It has particularly beautiful, large floral heads of red, pink, yellow or white, silvery glare. About 114 species of the genus Protea are known, whose name was first published by Carl von Linne in 1771.
These unusual plants are not easy to breed. The basic mistakes in breeding are irregular watering dynamics and excessive fertilization, especially phosphate fertilizers that can completely destroy the plant.
In the nature of the genus Protea, they grow in various habitats, from stony and moist meadows to sandy areas along the coast. They tolerate high temperature fluctuations, from 32 ° C to below zero. They survive under the snow. The natural soils on which they succeed, most of them acidic reactions, even in nature, we can find some in the soil pH of 8.0.
In cultivation we need to use a substrate for acidophilic plants. The soil should be evaporated to drain well but not dry up, to prevent water retention that damages the plant and leads to a disease of the roots.
The best time to sow is when the biggest difference is between day and night temperature, and this is most common in early spring. Temperature changes are important for improving the germination of the seed.
It is very important for the prevention of fungal infections. Seeds are placed in a water temperature of 50 ° C for half an hour. After that, the seeds spread out on paper and dried.
It is sown in the volume containers provided for one liter of substrate. The substrate is prepared from 2 parts of humus (acidic reactions eg earth for orchids or rhododendrons), 2 parts of natural sand and one part of perlite. Good drainage is important due to water deposition and the pH value should be 5.5.
Before planting, the substrate should be sprinkled with boiling water to prevent the development of pests and diseases. The seed is placed at the depth of its extent and is well watered. Place the vessel in a semi-advantageous location. The germination time is from three weeks to several months depending on the species.
When the first true leaves appear, the proteas should be moved to a lot of sunshine, while ensuring that the substrate in the sun never completely dries.
When the seedlings become strong enough, they can be planted in the garden in a sunny place, but not too hot. The holes are about half a meter deep and filled with compost. Plants should be carefully removed from the bowl and planted, as they have a very sensitive root. It is good to brush the soil around the plant for maintaining soil moisture, protection against excessive temperatures and weeds.
In nature, proteins grow in windy areas, so the plant in the garden should be placed in a breathable place. The soil should be maintained at the lowest point of humidity, but it must not be dried. This is accomplished by watering at greater intervals, with more water to penetrate the depth of the soil.
Protea is a modest plant and does not require a lot of nutrients. Care must be taken carefully, because concentrated fertilizers damage the root. It is best to use organic algae fertilizer or diluted guano-extract for the best use (half the concentration is written on the packaging). Of artificial fertilizers, it can be used for orchids or bromelia in the prescribed quantity and concentration.
In winter, the plants should be best placed in a light, cold and humid place (about 10 ° C), well ventilated due to the risk of infection by fungi and reduce watering. It is only when temperatures exceed 15 ° C. Some species can also be sown on the outside (not below -7 ° C) but need to be protected by conifer branches or agrotextile. Cutting oak flowers helps to create new floral buds.
Many species of the genus Protea based on the stem, above or below the soil, have a special thickening that enables plants to survive and force new shoots if a fire occurs. This property is particularly striking with the species Protea roupelliae, which at the beginning of its growth is virtually silent due to the formation of thickening.
Most species do not tolerate cold and are difficult to breed. Despite this, many lovers of plants are glad to have in the garden because of its beautiful floral heads. Protea neriifolia – an ectopic Protea of pink, red and yellow flowers is usually a cultivated species, as it should be more flexible.
Royal Protea cynaroides from import, are used for expensive arrangements like dry or cut flowers (in the vase long looks fresh) and very decorative.
Protea Flower – Secret message
Flowers have been used as symbols for centuries. Ancient cultures used them to celebrate important events and ceremonies and their presence certainly added a lot to the importance of the ceremony. Just like every flower has its own symbolic meaning and importance, it also hides a message just for us, that we need to implement on our lives. The message behind the Protea flower is to always be courageous and to never dim down your uniqueness. We are beautiful in our own way, so we need to cherish this beauty and make it stand out.
The beautiful Protea flowers are great representations of how different can be beautiful and desirable. We should live according to this message and make sure we never cut ourselves short for the things that belong to us.
