Are there different kinds of Protea seed?
Yes, in the Proteaceae family there are two very distinct types of seed: hard-shelled seeds and winged or ‘serotinous’ seeds. Leucospermum, a.k.a. Pincushions, generally have a hard-shelled seed and this nut-like shell tends to restrict the supply of oxygen that is needed for successful germination. To improve the likelihood of germination, the outer shell of the seed has to be broken or softened. This shell with a small file. Care should be taken not to damage the embryo of the seed. The preferred method, and the one we use in our nursery at Cape Flower Fields, is to soak the seed in a 1% solution of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 18 to 24 hours. Remove the softened outer layer of the seed. In nature this occurs with time during the rainy season and wet winters of the Western Cape in South Africa. Protea cynaroides seed belong to the ‘winged’ family. They almost look like flies used for fishing. To trigger germination, just expose them to the ‘smoke’ primer and plant them in a well-drai
