protea

British  

/ ˌprəʊtɪˈeɪʃəs, ˈprəʊtɪə /

noun

1. any shrub or small tree of the genus Protea, of tropical and southern Africa, having flowers with coloured bracts arranged in showy heads: family Proteaceae

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Other Word Forms

• proteaceous adjective

Etymology

Origin of protea

C20: from New Latin, from _Proteus , referring to the large number of different forms of the plant

Example Sentences

Hartman said he plans to open a nursery, hopefully later this year, so people can buy potted protea and plant them around their homes, given how drought-tolerant they are.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026

The spine of Church Street is graced with more than a dozen Cape Dutch buildings, some draped in bougainvillea and adorned with tropical plants — fynbos, protea or cactus flowers.

From New York Times • Apr. 11, 2019

Guinea fowl squawk around the sculpture garden, native flowers protea and strelitzia light up the flowerbeds, attracting colourful sugarbirds and sunbirds.

From The Guardian • Aug. 16, 2018

At the lower altitudes pass lavender farms and protea fields and farmhouses serving great organic breakfasts on terraces overlooking the radiant rolling countryside.

From Washington Times • Feb. 29, 2016

He was forced to hire a pair of bodyguards to protea him from his own excesses.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende