Brides and grooms are the king and queen of
their night.  Perhaps this is well symbolized by
using Protea in wedding arrangements.  The king
Protea (cynaroides) and queen Protea (magnifica)
are large, with well-formed flower heads.  As with
people, the king is often taller than his queen; the
king achieves 2 - 3 feet in length and the queen
1 1/2 - 2 feet.  There are also smaller varieties.

A Protea is a Honeypot or Sugarbush.  it is a woody
plant which was originally cultivated in Australia,
Israel and southern parts of Africa.  Its leaves are
simple and alternate.  The shape of the flower is
irregular with 4 external segments which grow
alternately with the petals.  The flowers are
somewhat arched inwards.  The center is double
and surrounded by hairy bracts.  Some varieties are black-topped.  Some have a wooly appearance.

The long-lasting Protea makes a dramatic
statement when used in low table arrangements. 
They are most appropriately used in contemporary wedding design.  Protea's eye-catching appeal will
be wasted if your arrangement is elevated, as its
beauty lies in its compact form and coloration,
which is best appreciated at low levels.