About Protea burchellii Stapf
Protea burchellii Stapf is a spreading, evergreen, multi-branched mid-sized Protea shrub. It reaches 1 to 2 metres in height, growing up to 3 metres tall, and reaches up to 3 metres wide. All of its branches grow from a single, central, branched stem that grows underground. Sources conflict on branch growth habit: some state the branches grow erect, while the original description notes they grow just above the ground. The young upper sections of the branches are covered in fine hairs. This species has an estimated generation length of around 20 years. It grows quite quickly; cultivated plants can produce their first flowers when only two years old. This species is endemic to the southern and southwestern Cape Region of South Africa, and is only found in the province of the Western Cape. Its distribution stretches from the Hottentots Holland Mountains to the Olifants River Mountains, and historically extended across lowland flatlands from the Cape Peninsula to the Hopefield Flats. Isolated populations grow on the Witzenbergvlakte, Piketberg, and the upper Breede River Valley. It also grows around Paarl Rock and near the town of Mamre. It can grow in a variety of habitats, but prefers more fertile soils in fully sunny locations on lower mountain slopes. It has been recorded growing in fynbos, renosterveld, coastal vegetation, and vegetation found on fertile shale bands. While it often grows in shale, it can also be found growing in a range of other soil types, including alluvium, sand, silcrete, and substrates derived from granite. It occurs at altitudes between 100 and 850 metres. Periodic wildfires in its native habitat kill all adult plants, but the species' seeds survive fires stored safely within old flower heads. Birds act as pollinators for this species. Protea burchellii and its hybrids are popular cultivated crops for the cut flower industry.
