I love the Protea flower, which I know is grown on the hillside nurseries in Hawaii. Can these beauties be grown in the mainland United States outdoors in a warm climate such as where I live - Hilton Head Island, SC? Can the Protea plants (or even seeds) be obtained, and if so, from what supplier?

-- Molly Wolf (grammolly@hotmail.com), January 10, 1999

Answers

I don't know, but I found the Edmonton Protea Club (http:// www.freenet.edmonton.ab.ca/protea/index.html). Figure if they can grow them up there, you should be able to grow in South Carolina. There are some contact email addresses at the site. Sorry I couldn't have been more help.

-- Roy Inouye (roy@bothi.com), January 21, 1999.

Proteas are predominately grown on the cool, upper slopes of Maui. They can grow at the lower elevations though. They are not a native plant however. We believe they are from Australia or New Zealand. You may want to try locate a nursery from down under for possible seed purchase. Locally, I do not believe anyone sells them.

-- Kunane Leigh (kunane@nursery.com), January 23, 1999.