Protea cynaroides vigour

Not only is Protea cynaroides a resprouter from its fire-resistant stump at and just below ground level, it will also grow new shoots from this woody base after damage from heavy frost in exposed positions. Found on mountain slopes to elevations around 1500 m, robust new growth from an old stump may produce many stems growing strongly when conditions allow.

As a key component of fynbos, proteas add the bigger leaves to the ericoid and restio-like fineness of this unique multispecies blend. In the case of proteas “fyn” is not earned by being tiny or delicate, but by completing the fynbos picture (Eliovson, 1983; iNaturalist).