Protea cynaroides Autumn Flowering - King Protea Autumn Flowering - 5 seeds

Most Protea occur south of the Limpopo River. However, Protea kilimanjaro is found in the chaparral zone of Mount Kenya National Park. 92% of the species occur only in the Cape Floristic Region, a narrow belt of mountainous coastal land from Clanwilliam to Grahamstown, South Africa. The extraordinary richness and diversity of species characteristic of the Cape Flora is thought to be caused in part by the diverse landscape where populations can become isolated from each other and in time develop into separate species.

The King Protea also known as the King Sugar bush was originally from the Cape Town area of South Africa. Now King proteas can be found all over the world where the atmosphere is dry and the soil has good drainage. It can even be found on Maui. The flower of the king Protea can get to be 30cm across. On the outside it has many stiff, pointed, narrow bracts, or petals, that give it the appearance of a cup. The bottom half of the petals starts out cream coloured or yellow, which turns into bright pink or velvet red on the top half. Inside the cup is a mass of white stamen about 2.5 – 5.0cm long which all bend towards the centre. The leaves look like flat spoons, or paddles, which grow alternately along the several stems of the plant. They are thick and stiff and round in appearance. Their petioles (leaf stems) are quite long, about 2.5-5.0cm. Proteas can take moisture in through its leaves. This works well where it grows. There isn't much annual precipitation. Ocean fogs frequently blanket the area of the coastal chaparral and plants have adapted to getting their water through their leaves. King Protea are valued for their decorative qualities. They dry very well and are commonly used as focal pieces in flower arrangements. It is said that Protea leaves are also used to make tea. Proteas live in a fragile environment. Of the 370 Protea species, about 120 of them are listed as endangered. There are very few wild proteas anymore, most of them are now cultivated in greenhouses or nurseries. This is an Autumn flowering variety.

USDA Zone 8

Season to Sow Autumn