Protea Barbigera ‘Early Mountain Queen’ (Protea magnifica) is a select early-flowering sport of the classic Barbigera, cultivated under rigorous standards in the Western Cape of South Africa. Its slightly smaller flower heads open ahead of the main season, displaying pale rose-pink inner bracts edged with deep burgundy. This variety offers reliable, early-season quality and refined colour for large-scale retail offerings.

Quality & Handling

• Cut at peak maturity when inner bracts begin to unfurl, then immediately cooled to 4 °C to preserve peak freshness.
• Maintained under a continuous cold-chain, with rigorous grading for head size, stem length, straightness, and leaf quality—ensuring consistent supply across bulk consignments.
• Expected vase life of 14–21 days when conditioned properly: re-cut stems underwater at a sharp angle on arrival, hydrate promptly in clean water, and refresh every 2–3 days. Use floral preservative during refreshes to optimise performance.
• Ethylene Sensitivity: Low, making it ideal for long-distance export and extended display.