Protea longifolia: Elegant Willow-Leaf Sugarbush with Exotic Bearded Blooms

a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } Protea longifolia Protea longifolia is an elegant, lesser‑known species valued for its long, narrow leaves, refined growth habit, and uniquely structured flower heads. This South African fynbos native produces upright, cylindrical to tapered blooms with soft cream, pink, or reddish tones depending on form and climate. Each flower head is composed of tightly layered bracts surrounding a shaggy, textured central mass, giving the blooms a distinctive sculptural appearance. Its evergreen foliage—long, smooth, and lance‑shaped—creates a clean architectural silhouette that brings movement and contrast to mixed plantings year‑round. Thriving in full sun and sharply drained, acidic soils, Protea longifolia is well suited to Mediterranean, coastal, and low‑water landscapes. It offers excellent drought tolerance once established and performs reliably in