Protea is a real hit among wedding flowers. Fashion-conscious brides should definitely pay attention to this unusual flower. It grows in Africa and is easily will blow your mind with its unusual appearance and many shapes and shades. The plant is not so easy to acquire, since not everyone has learned to grow it. Bouquets can be composed of proteas with blossoming inflorescences, as well as with still closed buds. Admiring and interested glances from guests at the wedding will be guaranteed.
Bride with protea
Symbolism
The original interpretation of the African flower is courage and power. There are about 400 varieties of plants with a wide variety of buds, large or small, needle-shaped or more rounded, but the vast majority of the species, in particular the most popular royal protea, visually resemble a crown or a royal scepter. Interesting! The crown teeth are not actually petals.
These are very dense, brightly colored leaves that are resistant to any touch. The name of the flower comes from the name of the ancient Greek god Proteus, famous for his ability to change appearance. The meaning of a wedding flower can be read as a willingness to accept any problems and solve them with honor, staying close to your soulmate, back to back or shoulder to shoulder.
When deciphering the meaning of a floral composition, color is also taken into account:
- white proteas speak of innocence, purity and the beginning of a new life;
- pink - about romantic love, boundless tenderness and caring attitude towards each other;
- red is a symbol of passion, impossible mutual attraction;
- yellow symbolizes well-being on all levels, from material to spiritual happiness and kinship;
- orange proteas mean unbridled joy;
- blue - nobility, especially if you choose a look that looks like a crown;
- purple symbolizes the mystery and creative nature of the bride.
history of the protea flower
This flower is a member of the very extensive Proteaceae family, which includes 70 genera. In the wild, the protea grows in Africa and Australia, where there is a huge variety of them. In general, the appearance of this flower varies greatly depending on the species. The genus Protea got its name from the name of the Greek deity, the son of Poseidon. According to mythology, Proteus could take on any form, just like the many-faced Protea. Protea inflorescences are bright - red, yellow or pink. They have a capitate shape or the shape of an elongated brush or ear.
What kind of brides are they suitable for?
An exotic flower looks exclusive, so it looks quite strange at an ordinary classic wedding. But if you add original details that go beyond stereotypes, the plant will fit into the classic bouquet and into the overall floristry of the room, since the buds are very hardy to any conditions. It’s even better to use protea at themed weddings - boho, rustic, gypsy, Hawaiian, fairytale.
First of all, the flower is suitable for a self-confident, extraordinary girl, for whom ordinary beauty is not enough, who is looking for the best, unique and suitable for her. The flower perfectly emphasizes the strength and fragility of the bride, her delicate taste. A huge palette of shades allows you to choose the right bud for any color type.
As for the wedding season, due to the characteristics of the place where it grows, Protea has ideal endurance. It does not need a lot of moisture and can do without it for several days without any problems. At the same time, both a hot summer wedding and a frosty winter celebration will not spoil the beauty of the petals. You can touch the bouquet without fear, but you should still throw it to your girlfriends carefully, because hard leaves falling from a height will almost certainly break.
Form
To create a non-trivial shape, you should play with an exotic type of protea.
The powerful woody stem allows you to create a magnificent composition in the form of a scepter. Even a single flower looks interesting, since its size is comparable to a small bouquet of something more traditional.
A cascade is also possible. In this case, the protea is placed on top, like a crown, and below, in a waterfall of curly foliage, the rest of the composition is hidden.
The round shape also looks fabulous whether you leave the top flat or a hemisphere.
Advice! Protea is an expensive plant, so in order not to spoil a single bud, it is better to entrust the creation of a floral composition to a professional.
If you decide to create a bouquet yourself, then it is worth remembering some points:
- When cutting stems, be sure to use pruning shears. At best, a knife or scissors will become dull, and at worst, they will break on thick stems;
- Remove all leaves except the topmost ones , and trim the stems from the bottom to just a centimeter;
- Both before and after the holiday, store the bouquet in a warm and well-lit place , while the height of the water in the vase should not exceed 2 cm. It is better to change the water every day - then the protea is guaranteed to last for about a month;
- If you want to leave the protea as a dried flower, it is better to dry it by hanging it with the inflorescence down, otherwise the petals may become deformed. The flower takes about 3 weeks to dry. Keep in mind that the shade of dried flowers will become significantly darker than that of a fresh plant.
Seasonality of Protea
Basically, proteas are available all year round. But some species have limited dates, such as the Blushing Bride - only available from April to September, and the Pad Protea - available from August to May. Proteas are quite persistent and can last up to several weeks. To make this flower last longer, it is advisable to change its water every day.
Protea symbolizes change in life, diversity and courage. If you want to diversify your wedding, bouquet or entire decor and surprise your guests, then this flower is undoubtedly for you.
Varieties
There are a lot of varieties of proteas, so you should choose based on the visual idea of the composition you want to get:
- Artichoke or royal protea are large flowers, up to 30 cm in diameter, usually powdery pink in color, looking like an elegant and luxurious royal crown. They perfectly complement boho and vintage style bouquets. They have the most delicate honey aroma;
- Pincushion. This species especially stands out in the exotic family - its very thin petals really look like needles. They cover the entire inflorescence, which is why the bud looks like a fairy-tale animal. Bright flowers look great in cascading bouquets with lots of greenery;
- Pink ice - fluffy buds that seem to consist of two parts - a delicate flower and the “ice” surrounding it. Flowers are interesting in the company of softer and careless inflorescences of peonies, hydrangeas, and chrysanthemums. First of all, “pink ice” adds romantic, dreamy notes to a wedding look, but the combination of this type of protea with succulents looks no less stylish;
- Shy Bride – the name speaks for itself. The slight gradient on the petals, from red to soft pink, creates a magical, delicate accent that looks great both alone and in combination with other plants.
How to grow protea
Growing protea is not an easy task, requiring skill and experience from the gardener and, of course, love for his work. But if successful, the unusual flower will delight you with its exotic appearance and will become a wonderful addition to the collection of any garden.
Temperature
The temperature regime for protea is different in summer and winter. In summer, the flower is comfortable at temperatures of 20°C and above. In winter, the temperature should be reduced to 5-10°C.
Lighting
Protea loves bright light, but not direct sunlight - they negatively affect the color of the inflorescences. She will be comfortable in an apartment on the west or east side. In the garden - in an area with diffused light and light shade.
Priming
The composition of the earthen mixture for protea should include in equal proportions: high-moor peat, river sand, pine needles. Among the purchased options, soil for rhododendrons and azaleas is suitable. The acidity level should be within 5 – 5.5 Ph. The texture of the soil should be breathable and well drained.
Air humidity
Protea prefers dry air; spraying or additional humidification is not required.
Watering
In the wild, protea grows in dry soil, so you should not overwater the flower at home - this will harm it. In summer, water rarely, but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. In winter, even less often - once a month. For irrigation use soft warm water.
Top dressing
Feeding protea is aimed at increasing the acidity of the soil. Once every 4-6 weeks, you can add half the dose of fertilizing rhododendrons and azaleas to the water for irrigation, or acidify it with oxalic or citric acid. In early spring and after flowering begins, you can use a full dose of fertilizing.
Trimming
After flowering is completed, carefully remove the inflorescences and cut off the branches to no more than 10 cm. Overgrown bushes are pruned in the spring before replanting the plant.
Composition ideas
Protea looks great on its own, as one large exotic flower. To give the flower freshness, just add a few large leaves or fluffy flowers - peonies, roses, hydrangea. But remember: if the protea can withstand any blows of bad weather with honor, then you should be more careful with the rest of the plants.
An exotic flower in itself already looks unusual, so a good option is to add other unusual companions to it, for example, powdery succulents, as if dusted with dust.
This composition will fit perfectly into a wedding in a loft or modern style.
Idea! If you like bright colors, then dilute the ensemble with echinacea or scabiose.
A more gentle, romantic mood can be created by surrounding a large pastel-colored royal protea with roses or peonies of the same shade.
DIY protea bouquet
A bride’s wedding bouquet of protea, a distinctive and bright flower, can be made without contacting a florist . The composition will turn out beautiful, and it will take very little time!
What you need for work:
- floral tape (green);
- pruner;
- pins;
- ribbons for decoration;
- protea;
- any seasonal flowers (mimosa, clematis, anemones, lavender, tulips, jasmine, peonies, etc.)
Step-by-step process for making a bouquet:
- You should start working with the main flower in the bouquet - protea. The flower must be wrapped with green twigs and other small flowers to form a frame.
- Add larger flowers to the bouquet, such as peonies or clematis. When the bouquet takes on a clearer shape, you need to evaluate it by looking at the reflection in the mirror. This makes it easier to understand where else to add flowers, and where, on the contrary, to subtract.
- The next row will be small flowers, such as ranunculus or anemones.
- Look at the composition from the outside again. Close the gaps with twigs or leaves.
- Pin a satin or lace ribbon to the stems. Wrap overlappingly around the stems, without going all the way to the bottom. Raise the tape up again and secure it inconspicuously with a pin.
- In the middle of the ribbon, decorate with a small decor - a brooch or a bow made from a ribbon of a contrasting color, and glue on beads.
- Trim the lower ends of the stems with pruning shears so that they look neat.
Bridal bouquet of protea, roses and peonies
A bouquet with delicate protea flowers is an excellent solution for a wedding . It is attractive not only because it has extraordinary and bright beauty, but also because of its durability. The composition will last perfectly throughout the long wedding day and will not even wilt. Protea is an expensive pleasure, but a bouquet made from it is simply stunning.
Recommendations
Be sure to take into account the theme of the wedding - a protea bouquet is unusual in any case, and this must be reflected in the details of the celebration and in the image of the bride.
Here are some more tips from florists and decorators:
- A small protea as a groom’s boutonniere will immediately show the impeccable taste of the young couple , and will look gorgeous in photographs;
- Try not to overdo it with brightness and texture. The exotic element must be presented properly without being overloaded with details;
- You should not add more than three bright pure flowers to a bouquet , otherwise the overall picture will turn out to be too heterogeneous and chaotic.
It is better to entrust the preparation of the bouquet to a professional. If you want to do this yourself, carefully follow all the recommendations for caring for the buds, because a tropical flower requires completely different treatment than the plants of our strip.
Photo
Large and bright protea buds are the perfect addition to a lush “disheveled” wedding bouquet in boho style or a classic bridal bouquet of roses, and blooming flowers - pale pink, burgundy and even greenish shades - will become a special accent in luxurious floral arrangements . For example, as in the photo:
