Almost ten years ago; before the initial clearing of our forest of Bluegum trees up on the mountain slopes behind the Shiraz block, I remember bumping into this plant, and it was barely hanging in there. No sun was getting through to the ground due to the alien trees taking out the sunshine with a thick canopy. There was no water in the soil, the thirsty Aussie tree’s nick up to 1 000 litres of water a day! These were pretty big forests we had so one can only imagine how much water was being sucked out of the ground. Along with no moisture in the soil, the trees would have sucked up all the nutrients from the soil as well. So this plant was having a tough time, but was sticking around by all intentions. As soon as the forest was cleared, the life returned into the plant immediately, the flowers became darker, and more prolific. And within a year there were numerous little plants to be seen in the area.
Now, almost 8 years later, we are still seeing the babies popping up all over the place. I think the significance of this specific species of Protea for me is how quickly it indicated that it was doing so much better without these monster blue gums as thirsty neighbours anymore.
So the photos I have posted today are the children of that very first protea which indicated to me how critically important it is to keep ones property alien free for the benefit of the naturally occurring Fynbos. And they are such pretty little things. The fine detail in each floret is incredible.
Give me a shout @rambowine or mail rob@hautespoir.com or call the farm to make an appointment and I will walk you up the mountain to go and see the mother plant and the little ones.
For some more info on the cordifolium please visit Planztafrica
