Protea cynaroides

  • Protea cynaroides flower single
  • Protea cynaroides bud
  • Protea cynaroides bud
  • Protea cynaroides bud
  • Protea cynaroides flowers
  • Protea cynaroides flowers
  • Protea cynaroides flower mature
  • Protea cynaroides flower detail
  • Protea cynaroides flower mature
  • Protea cynaroides form
  • Protea cynaroides regrowth
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Botanical Name
Protea cynaroides
Family
Proteaceae - The Protea family
Pronunciation
PROH-tee-uh sin-nar-OY-deez
Common Name(s)
English: King Protea
Afrikaans: Grootsuikerkan
IsiXhosa: isiqwane; esincinci
Plant Group
  • Fynbos Certain plants endemic to the areas of the Western Cape of South Africa that have a Mediterranean climate of cold, wet winters and hot, dry summers.
  • Shrub A woody plant of relatively low height, having several stems arising from the base and lacking a single trunk; a bush.
Plant Size
  • Medium
    Tree10m to 16m
    Shrub1m to 2m
    Perennial/ground cover40cm to 60cm
    Bulb40cm to 60cm
    Succulent40cm to 60cm
  • Small
    Tree4m to 8m
    Shrub50cm to 75cm
    Perennial/ground cover10cm to 20cm
    Bulb20cm to 30cm
    Succulent10cm to 20cm
Position
  • Sun The area is in full sun for all or most of the day, all year round.
General Information
  • Drought Tolerance: Moderate The plant is moderately adapted to arid conditions and can survive short periods of drought and high temperatures without extra water.
  • Evergreen Plants that have leaves all year round.
  • Frost: Half-hardy The plant is able to survive low temperatures and some frost but requires protection against severe frost.
  • Frost: Hardy The plant can withstand freezing temperatures or frost without artificial protection.
  • Roots Non-invasive Safe to plant near pools, paving, walls or buildings.
  • Water Moderate These plants will need some extra watering compared to water-wise plants. Plant them together, in at least some shade and in a convenient proximity to the house so that grey water can be utilised during times of drought.
  • Wind Tolerant Plants able to withstand the effect of strong winds.
Specific Information

The King protea is known worldwide as a magnificent cut flower and is South Africa's national flower. Usually about 1 meter tall, it varies remarkably depending on habitat and climatic conditions, resulting in a large variety of leaf- and flower sizes, height from 35 cm to 2 meters, as well as variations in colour and flowering times. Protea cynaroides is a woody shrub with large dark green, glossy leaves. The thick stems grow from an underground rootstock.  As with most proteas it grows in soils with very low amounts of nutrients. Protea cynaroides is adapted to survive fires by its thick underground stem, which contains many dormant buds, ready to produce new growth after the fire. Protea cynaroides grows in harsh environments with dry, hot summers and wet, cold winters. The tough, leathery leaves prevent excessive loss of moisture, and a large taproot penetrates deep into the soil to reach underground moisture. Like most other Proteaceae, the King protea has 'proteoid' roots, roots with dense clusters of short lateral rootlets that form a mat in the soil just below the leaf litter. It is with these roots that the protea derives its nourishment. Large, vigorous plants produce six to ten flower heads in one season although some plants have many more than this. Not well suited to very dry areas, regions with very severe frost or to hot humid conditions.
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Flowers
Description

Large heads from 120 mm to 300 mm in diameter, consisting of a collection of flowers in the center, surrounded by large colourful bracts.
Season
  • Summer to Winter Plants will seldom bloom for the entire season as given in the list, but should flower during a period within these parameters.
Colour
  • pink
  • crimson
  • cream
Growth Rate
  • Moderate Specifying growth rate can be very misleading as there is considerable variation of growth rate depending on type and species of plant, available water, supplementary feeding, mulching and general care, as well as the plants suitability and adaptability to the garden environment.
Plant Uses
  • Accent or Focal Point A plant used to attract the attention because of its colour or form.
  • Attracts bees, butterflies or other insects This plant attracts insects which can be food for birds or other creatures in your garden.
  • Attracts Birds This plant will attract birds.
  • Cut Flowers Plants that provide flowers suitable for ornamental uses.
  • Filler Either a fast growing tree or shrub used temporarily to fill in an area while the permanent plants grow to a desired size, or a plant used to fill gaps in borders or beds.
  • Suitable for coastal gardens Plants adapted to dry, sandy soil, forceful wind, limited rainfall and intense sunlight.
  • Suitable for smaller gardens Such plants do not have invasive root systems, remain small or controllable and can often be grown in containers.
  • Wild Garden An indigenous garden planted for the benefit of wildlife and birds. Provides food, water, a variety of mini-biomes and no poisonous chemicals are used.
Distribution and Habitat

from the Cedarberg Mountains in the northwest of the Western Cape Province to Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province, from sea level to 1 500 meters high, growing in fynbos and on medium to high rainfall mountain slopes
Planting Suggestions

The King protea demands very well-drained, nutrient poor soil in a sunny, airy position.  They will not grow well in clay soils and will die if their roots are kept wet. If possible plant on a slope or on slightly elevated mound to prevent drainage problems.  In the cooler summer rainfall regions try for a north facing slope. Dig a hole twice the width of the container and one and a half times the height. Do not apply artificial fertilizer or fresh manure to the soil mix. Mulch well around the plant but keep the area around the trunk of the plant clear, as the crown of the plant must be able to dry off. Proteas have a dense network of fine roots just below the surface of the soil and no cultivation should take place below them as disturbance will damage the roots and possibly introduce fungal disease, resulting in the death of the plant. The use of a thick mulch of leaf litter and pine bark/needles will feed the plant, keep the soil cool and discourage weeds. In summer rainfall areas water regularly during winter and occasionally in summer if the weather is dry.    

​A plant that is not thriving may be over-watered, poorly drained or be planted in too rich a soil.
Medicinal Uses

No data found.
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Comments

I potted a king protea, which had 5 flower buds and I have lost all the flowers and was wondering what cases that to happen. I water just before the plant dries and would say I water 2 or 3 times per week. The plant is in full sun. The soil I used was recommended by a nursery and I have not used any fertilisers

Submitted by Norman on Wed, 05/01/2013 - 15:05

Hi Norman

My feeling is that if the plant already had flower buds, it was a bit too old to be transplanted. Did you transplant from a bag you bought from a nursery or a plant from the ground? I have discovered over the years that almost any plant that is transplanted while in flower is bound to lose its flowers. Added to that is the fact that Proteas are soooo touchy about having their roots disturbed - in fact I am surprised that your plant has survived at all.

I think too that you may be over-watering. Proteas do not like having their roots wet. I would suggest you water only when the soil is completely dry, then water well and wait again until the soil is dry. The proteas in my garden often go for months without water and we have long droughts lasting more than 5 years at a time. The proteas manage to flower successfully every year.

Hope this helps and that your protea goes on to thrive.

Kind regards
Lorraine

Submitted by Lorraine on Thu, 05/02/2013 - 20:33

Thanks Lorraine for the tips. I transplated from a bag and the plant at that stage had buded flowers although I have lost all the new buds I have a lot of new growth and the King protea really looks heathy.

Submitted by Norman on Thu, 05/02/2013 - 21:29

Happy to hear this. Please send me a picture through my email (kumbulanursery@gmail.com) so I can include it with my photos. I've had a few queries about keeping proteas in containers, especially from overseas. It would be nice to have a visual.

Regards
Lorraine

Submitted by Lorraine on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 11:27

I have protea cyranoides plants that had nice new growth. I have noticed that on some of the plants the new growth has turned brown or bronze in colour and are dying. It hasn't affected the older leaves. I have spent hours looking for reasons for this.Had lots of rain after a long dry summer, but they have been well watered through this. No frosts and only a tiny amount of Ammonia sulphate. Any Ideas?

Submitted by Nigel Kingsbury on Fri, 04/25/2014 - 09:56

Hi Nigel

My apologies for being so tardy in replying to your query, but I have given it a great deal of thought. Here is what I think may have happened.

When proteas are in stress, the damage becomes visible from the new growth and travels downwards towards the older growth so would only affect the lower parts of the plant later. This kind of die-off invariable means that the roots have been compromised in some way.

Proteas do not need much moisture during summer as they come from a Mediterranean climate where there is very little precipitation during the summer months. By the time the winter rains arrive, the soil deep down is pretty dry.

The heavy rain you mention is thus a concern. Is it possible that the water did not drain away quickly enough? Having been watered well during summer, it is possible that the soil deeper down was already wet and the water was unable to drain away fast enough. This would result in a fungal disease causing the roots to rot. This happens very easily with protea roots as they are super sensitive to too much water. You would not necessarily see the water above ground - this would have happened much deeper down. The fact that not all the plants were affected would be related to the varying drainage properties of the soil below the surface.

If the roots have contracted a fungal disease, the look-out is very poor. By the time any damage is noticed, it is usually too late to do anything about it and the plants die - usually very quickly.

I sincerely hope that this is not the case with your plants. Do please let me know how they progress and whether any or all of them survive. It would certainly help me to gauge if my diagnosis is correct or not.

Kind regards
Lorraine

Submitted by Lorraine on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 12:03

Hi, I am looking for a white/ cream cynaroides protea.
I live in KZN.
Would you know of anyone who sells them?

Regards
Poppet Mockford.

Submitted by Poppet Mockford on Sun, 08/17/2014 - 13:03

Hi Poppet

Unfortunately I can't help you. The only growers that I know of that stock this rare protea are in Australia, the UK and the USA. There is one farm in South Africa that has started growing the white cynaroides but this is only for the export flower market.

Kind regards
Lorraine

Submitted by Lorraine on Tue, 08/19/2014 - 08:07

Hi, not sure if you are still looking but I have just ordered 2 white King protea from Dieters Nursery in Hillcrest. Their full range of protea will be in by the end of August 2015. Try and give them a call and pre-order.

Submitted by Karin on Sat, 06/06/2015 - 19:51

Hi Karin

Many thanks for letting us know.

For photos of the nursery and contact details, go to

http://livinghillcrest.blogspot.com/2013/05/loving-dieters-nursery.html

Kind regards
Lorraine

Submitted by Lorraine on Wed, 06/10/2015 - 11:13

Hi,

Dieters sell at around R200 a pop. They purchase them from Arnelia, who will sell them to you at about R100 a pop, delivered ex their nursery in the Cape. As a note, Arnelia have to pay royalties on each bush to a third party - who controls the whole White King market in the country. Google Arnelia for for more info.

Submitted by Terry on Fri, 11/06/2015 - 17:18

Hi,

I planted a young king protea in a large wine barrel type pot at the beginning of this year. It has grown along shoot(over a meter) plus another shorter one to the side. There are no other shoots and it is not really forming a bush.

Can I prune the plant as I want it to grow more as a bush.

Thanks

André

Submitted by Andre on Wed, 10/01/2014 - 10:05

Hi Andre

I am referring you to an excellent site that will give you the information you need. Go to: http://finebushpeople.com/content/how-prune-protea-bushes.

Kind regards
Lorraine

Submitted by Lorraine on Mon, 10/13/2014 - 16:40

I live in San Francisco California and would like to know a source (retail, wholesale or grower) in the USA (preferably in the western USA)to obtain this plant. Thanks

Jason

Submitted by Jason Mass on Sat, 05/23/2015 - 08:50

Hi Jason

I'd love to help but statistically it is impossible for me to keep world-wide records of nurseries and their stock lists. Hopefully a reader will be able to help out.

Kind regards
Lorraine

Submitted by Lorraine on Wed, 06/10/2015 - 11:46

My King Protea leaves started to get orange blotches on them which eventually made the whole leaf brown before falling off. Thinking it was a fungal disease I sprayed the plant with a fungicide containing copper which did not help. I then cut back all the diseased and leafless branches to promote new growth. The plant responded very well and new shoots were sprouting all over the bush but this was short lived and within a month the plant had died. What is the cause of these blotches on the leaves and how can I treat them as it also occurs on other proteas ie Red Ice, repens and pin cushions?

Submitted by Dave Wampach on Sat, 03/05/2016 - 09:33

Hi There
Where can i contact Amelia so that i can purchase 3000 white king protea plants
Regards

Submitted by Brian on Mon, 03/21/2016 - 19:43

Hi

I have a King Protea about 3 years old, standing tall about 1.5m and need to move it to another corner of my property urgently. It is now "sunny" winter in the Cape, what is your suggestion to make sure I don't lose the plant when moving it to the new spot.

Thanks

Submitted by Anelma on Mon, 06/06/2016 - 12:00

Hi Anelma

Even digging near or around a Protea will be enough to kill it. I have never transplanted a Protea bigger than 10 cm tall so I am unable to make any suggestions.

Kind regards
Lorraine

Submitted by Lorraine on Tue, 11/01/2016 - 13:45

I live SF Bay area, CA. In June/July we planted a Protea (not sure which one)in an area that has full sun. We thought it was doing good. But now that we have had rain and temp. changes back and forth between hot and cold. We saw today that the center of the plant has alot of brown leaves. We are not sure what to do for it. I have read alot of opinions, I don't want to lose it. Can you help us? Thank you so much.

Submitted by AJ on Fri, 10/21/2016 - 01:25

Hi AJ

I can't really make any diagnosis with so little information. Can you send a few pictures?

Regards
Lorraine

Submitted by Lorraine on Tue, 11/01/2016 - 13:49

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