Protea cynaroides

RHS Plant Profile
king protea

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Protea cynaroides?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
king protea RHS
king protea RHS
king protea Janet Cubey & Wolfgang Bopp 1997

Other common names

Cape artichoke flower

Conservatory Greenhouse Shrubs
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
5 Suppliers

A sparsely branched evergreen shrub with leathery, elliptic leaves and terminal, bowl-shaped flowerheads 15-30cm across, with red to pink or cream bracts

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
1-1.5 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H2
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Proteaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Protea are evergreen shrubs or trees, with leathery, simple, entire leaves and dense terminal clusters of tiny 4-petalled flowers, surrounded by large, petal-like bracts
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
South Africa (Cape)

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in full light. Water sparingly in winter. Grow outdoors in a frost-free, sheltered border in poor neutral to acid, well drained soil. Die back and general failure to thrive usually indicates that the rooting medium is too rich

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 13-18°C when ripe or in spring, or take semi-hardwood cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Patio and container plants
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Cut flowers
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 1. Plants grown under glass may require pruning to restrict growth

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)