| Haleakala Crater rising above Kula Vista Protea Farm, where many of our Protea products are grown, provides one of the best views on Maui!
Jim began commercial propagation of protea on Maui in 1977, importing hundreds of species of Proteaceae from Australia and South Africa. After planting approximately 25,000 - 30,000 field plants over a 10 year period, Jim selected the most vigorous and unique varieties which were planted at Kula Vista Protea, Hawaii's largest protea farm and home to the famous Maui Protea. Consisting of 80 acres on the gentle slopes of Haleakala Crater, Jim's coveted selections have found the perfect home.
Warm days accompanied by cooling afternoon clouds protect the colorful bracts and also create naturally long stems. Cool downward drafts of air from atop the 10,50% foot crest of Haleakala make for a temperature variation of approximately 25ƒ between day and night. This is necessary to set the buds for future Maui Protea. But that's only half of it, the roots are blessed with the perfect drainage being located on the side of a mountain and the soil is the same acidic type found in their natural habitat of South Africa. Protea has found a very happy second home on the beautiful island of Maui.
Ancient History - Modern Flower
Prehistoric, Dinosaur like, Out of this World, Star Wars Flowers! These are some of the comments people make when seeing protea flowers for the first time. And they are more accurate than they know. The ancestors of protea plants date back to 100 million years ago, and therefore are considered some of the oldest family of plants on earth. So yes, Tyrannosaurus Rex may also have appreciated their beauty. We like to imagine they will still be blooming 100 million years from now.
Carl Linnaeus, the father of modern botany and plant taxonomy named this flower in 1735, after the Greek God, Proteus. In Greek mythology, Proteus had the ability to change shape and form at his will; hence the name given to these flowers with their diverse array of colors, shapes, textures and sizes.
Joseph Banks, the botanist who traveled with Captain Cook, discovered them while in Australia thus the name Banksia for that genus of protea.
While you are enjoying your fresh protea flowers remember they also dry into a durable flower that can be enjoyed a long time... at least 100 million years....
Continue on and learn about the different types of proteacea we grow and ship for you...
The scientific name of each variety is shown in italics
Peak blooming seasons shown as pink boxes below the description for each flower with the lighter pink boxes signifying less blooms per bush in those months. |
