| The Protea (pronounced “Prow-tee-ya”) is the national flower of South Africa. Proteas are a family of shrubs with unusual and beautiful flowers. Most South African Proteaceae occur in the Cape, hugging the coast and mountainous regions. Though indigenous to South Africa, these exotic plants are also successfully grown in Australia and the USA. They flourish in Hawaii, where the climate best mirrors their native environment. There are also several successfully producing protea farms in San Diego, California. The largest of the proteas is the aptly named “King Protea”, featured in our logo. The most common and easily recognizable is probably the Protea Nerifolia (pictured above). The Protea is popular not only for its exotic beauty, but for its characteristic adaptability to growing conditions and its hardiness. In addition to its fine qualities, the name of this remarkable flower coincidentally reflects a preference for our favorite beverage, tea (as in “Pro-Tea”) Hence the appropriate name of our establishment: "Protea Cottage" |
