The Western Cape Province and particularly the Cape Floristic Region is famous for the many species of magnificent Proteaceae. While perhaps not comparable, a number of spectacular species of Proteaceae are native to other parts of South Africa and numerous Protea farmers in these areas derive incomes from producing plants and cut flowers in these areas. A team of FABI researchers including Prof. Emma Steenkamp, Prof. Mike Wingfield, Dr Trudy Paap and Dr Magriet van der Nest, together with students spent a day considering Proteaceae disease problems north of Pretoria. Inspections included plants on a commercial Protea farm, which had experienced severe hail damage as well as native Protea compacta.  Pathogen biology issues such as host shifts between native and cultivated plants were considered and these will feed into various FABI research projects in the future.