Decorating
Spotted! A Profusion of Proteas All Over the Place
The spectacular forms and striking colours of proteas have moved from the garden to interiors
Proteas are no shrinking violets when it comes to putting on a show – and not just in the garden. They are a great choice for dramatic flower arrangements and are even appearing in fabrics, wallpaper, rugs, screens and artwork. There’s a French expression perfect for proteas: jolie-laide. It translates as ‘pretty-ugly’ – people or objects not conventionally attractive, but with a quirky oddness that makes them all the more fascinating. If dainty rosebuds aren’t your thing, see ways to bring these extraordinary plants into your decor.
Foolproof flower arrangements
As an effortless floral arrangement, nothing beats a couple of full-blown proteas and a sprig of their leathery pointed leaves. Cut two or three at different lengths and place in glass jars or bottles that allow their woody stems to be seen – they pretty much arrange themselves. In a more refined vessel, like a delicate cut-crystal vase or an engraved silver bowl, there’s a striking contrast between the container and the almost primitive flower heads. Put a Japanese twist on your displays by applying the principles of ikebana.
As an effortless floral arrangement, nothing beats a couple of full-blown proteas and a sprig of their leathery pointed leaves. Cut two or three at different lengths and place in glass jars or bottles that allow their woody stems to be seen – they pretty much arrange themselves. In a more refined vessel, like a delicate cut-crystal vase or an engraved silver bowl, there’s a striking contrast between the container and the almost primitive flower heads. Put a Japanese twist on your displays by applying the principles of ikebana.
Not many flowers have the presence to take on a floor-level display. Go big with proteas, making a bold statement in an oversized glass vessel placed on the floor. Try not to detract from their rugged, velvet thatched crowns with elaborate containers or too much greenery.
For a natural look, a hollowed bark tube filled with a variety of dried and fresh flora, foliage and grasses is a great way to showcase the vibrant colours of proteas. It can be hung under shelter outside, for example, beside the front door, or inside. Another way to achieve a rustic display that suits proteas’ rugged appeal is to wrap a container in hessian cloth and tie with a few twists of thick rope, twine or long strands of flexible grass.
So your garden style is: natural
So your garden style is: natural
Proteas with dinner?
A vase of flowers on a dining table is pretty to look at, but heady floral scents detract from the delicious food you’re serving up. Save the jonquils, freesias, sweet peas, daphne and scented roses for another spot in the house where their perfumes can be enjoyed. Most proteas have no scent so make an ideal centrepiece.
How to set an ‘Australiana’ table
A vase of flowers on a dining table is pretty to look at, but heady floral scents detract from the delicious food you’re serving up. Save the jonquils, freesias, sweet peas, daphne and scented roses for another spot in the house where their perfumes can be enjoyed. Most proteas have no scent so make an ideal centrepiece.
How to set an ‘Australiana’ table
Beauty that lasts
Cut proteas are pretty hardy, and good value for money. Here’s how to prolong their vase life:
Cut proteas are pretty hardy, and good value for money. Here’s how to prolong their vase life:
- Buy flower heads just starting to open and trim 2 centimetres off stems.
- Strip off any leaves that will be under the water.
- Add a few drops of bleach to the water to prevent mould or change water every 1-2 days – proteas are thirsty creatures.
Cut, dried and dyed
Not only do proteas have a long cut life, but when dried they keep their structure and last for months. Although some retain their colours, most fade to a rather gorgeous muted Renaissance-painting palette.
To dry: Strip all but a few leaves. Place blooms immediately in a 1:3 glycerin/water solution about 12 centimetre deep. When tiny glycerin droplets appear on leaves after several days, hang in a dry, dark, well-ventilated spot for a few weeks. Don’t crowd them so air circulates freely.
Photo by Grace Gladdish
Not only do proteas have a long cut life, but when dried they keep their structure and last for months. Although some retain their colours, most fade to a rather gorgeous muted Renaissance-painting palette.
To dry: Strip all but a few leaves. Place blooms immediately in a 1:3 glycerin/water solution about 12 centimetre deep. When tiny glycerin droplets appear on leaves after several days, hang in a dry, dark, well-ventilated spot for a few weeks. Don’t crowd them so air circulates freely.
Photo by Grace Gladdish
Once the flower heads are thoroughly dried, let your imagination free with colours to emphasise the exotic decorative shapes. Test a household spray paint by misting a bloom lightly. For a professional job, special lacquer-based florists sprays can be used. Try Design Master Colourtool sprays from Koch & Co.
A festive front door
With Christmas around the corner, there’s no better time to grab a bunch of proteas and weave them into a wreath for your front door. Make the base from flexible greenery and secure proteas among the foliage with twists of thin wire. A little wonkiness won’t matter – perfection is overrated. Smaller, barely-open flower heads are easier to wrangle into shape than large ones. They last through Christmas, can take some summer heat and, as they mature, maintain their shapes well.
With Christmas around the corner, there’s no better time to grab a bunch of proteas and weave them into a wreath for your front door. Make the base from flexible greenery and secure proteas among the foliage with twists of thin wire. A little wonkiness won’t matter – perfection is overrated. Smaller, barely-open flower heads are easier to wrangle into shape than large ones. They last through Christmas, can take some summer heat and, as they mature, maintain their shapes well.
Botanical Illustration
Painting proteas
Proteas are a popular subject for the artistically inclined. Maybe it’s the bold shape, the sculptural quality and how they change character during their growth stages from a tight pointed cone to a full-blown spiky globe in an array of colours. They have inspired many artists to try to capture their primitive appeal, including Melbourne artist Sandie Copland.
Proteas are a popular subject for the artistically inclined. Maybe it’s the bold shape, the sculptural quality and how they change character during their growth stages from a tight pointed cone to a full-blown spiky globe in an array of colours. They have inspired many artists to try to capture their primitive appeal, including Melbourne artist Sandie Copland.
A different perspective altogether, but this artist was obviously fascinated with the shapes, forms and colours of tightly-closed proteas and has created a vibrant attention-grabbing artwork for Rylo Interiors’ showroom in Brisbane.
Hanging art above a fireplace
Hanging art above a fireplace
Botanical Illustration
Proteas and friends
Closely related to proteas – you can see the similarity here – is the waratah (Telopea), NSW’s floral emblem. It shares the same dramatic knobbly flower head, pointed petals and leathery leaves. Recently, breeders have developed species in golden yellow, salmon pink, creamy champagne and pure white.
The Australian Eora people gave the waratah its common name, and its botanical name, Telopea speciosissima, is a Greek/Latin pastiche meaning “beautiful flower seen from afar”. It once grew in profusion in NSW’s Blue Mountains and became a favourite souvenir for tourists. Sadly, cartloads of the vivid red blooms were stripped from the bush to enhance city gardens and their abundance dwindled. A protection order was enacted in 1924, and today they can’t be picked from nature parks or public reserves.
Closely related to proteas – you can see the similarity here – is the waratah (Telopea), NSW’s floral emblem. It shares the same dramatic knobbly flower head, pointed petals and leathery leaves. Recently, breeders have developed species in golden yellow, salmon pink, creamy champagne and pure white.
The Australian Eora people gave the waratah its common name, and its botanical name, Telopea speciosissima, is a Greek/Latin pastiche meaning “beautiful flower seen from afar”. It once grew in profusion in NSW’s Blue Mountains and became a favourite souvenir for tourists. Sadly, cartloads of the vivid red blooms were stripped from the bush to enhance city gardens and their abundance dwindled. A protection order was enacted in 1924, and today they can’t be picked from nature parks or public reserves.
Another important member of the extended Proteaceae family is the banksia. They are striking as fresh flowers, especially when grouped informally with their cones or seed pods. Australian children who grew up from the 1920s onwards will be familiar with prickly banksias and their tough serrated foliage. They were made famous in May Gibbs’ Snugglepot and Cuddlepie books. Gibbs gave the banksia cone a spooky persona as the villainous big, bad Banksia Men, the stuff of many a childhood nightmare.
One big happy family
Isn’t it amazing how related flowers and foliage look good together? Mass banksias and proteas in a rustic container, throw in some gumnuts, twisted branches, poke in a few chunky sticks and surround with silvery eucalyptus foliage.
Grow your own
Some may prefer to enjoy the beauty of the protea family in the garden. To attract a myriad of grateful birds to dine on the glucose-rich nectar secreted in the spring and early summer blooming season, invite the whole family in. Banksias, waratahs (harder to grow), grevillea, leucodendrons, leucospermums and hakea create flamboyant displays that truly make your garden an Australian paradise.
TELL US
Are you a fan of proteas and their relatives? How do you use them in your home? Share with us in the Comments section
MORE
See more spaces designed for plant lovers
Isn’t it amazing how related flowers and foliage look good together? Mass banksias and proteas in a rustic container, throw in some gumnuts, twisted branches, poke in a few chunky sticks and surround with silvery eucalyptus foliage.
Grow your own
Some may prefer to enjoy the beauty of the protea family in the garden. To attract a myriad of grateful birds to dine on the glucose-rich nectar secreted in the spring and early summer blooming season, invite the whole family in. Banksias, waratahs (harder to grow), grevillea, leucodendrons, leucospermums and hakea create flamboyant displays that truly make your garden an Australian paradise.
TELL US
Are you a fan of proteas and their relatives? How do you use them in your home? Share with us in the Comments section
MORE
See more spaces designed for plant lovers
Proteas are extremely old plants, with ancestors dating back millions of years to the ancient super-continent of Gondwana. Gondwana included present-day South Africa and Australia, and when it split up, proteas took a ride on the fragments that drifted apart. Although they are found world-wide, Australia and South Africa have the most diverse protea population. The king protea (protea cynaroides) with the largest flower head in the genus, is South Africa’s national flower and appears on their coat-of-arms.
Flower fact: Proteas are named after the ancient Greek mythological sea-god Proteus, who could assume many shapes at will. This refers to the amazing variety of species within the Proteaceae family – some 1600.
Photo by Grace Gladdish