Protea cynaroides

Protea cynaroides, the king protea, is an upright, sparsely branched shrub reaching heights from 30 cm to 2 m. The hairless stems arise from a thick underground rootstock from which the plant resprouts after fire. Multistemmed fynbos shrubs resprout from their thick rootstocks or lignotubers. The lignotubers grow several stems from ground-level, appearing rapidly after fire in headstart over reseeders. The variably shaped, hairless leaves are distinctly stalked.

Flowerhead colour varies: the pale pink variety is common and well liked, while deep crimson and creamy white flowering forms exist. The shrub is relatively small for such big heads. The large flowerhead consists of many individual flower tubes or perianths, bunched together within the cup of involucral bracts. A well-growing bush may produce a large number of flowerheads in a season which may last all year and a flowerhead may contain about 400 viable seeds.

The distribution is in the Western Cape from the Cederberg to the Cape Peninsula and in a coastal belt to the Eastern Cape as far as Makhanda (Grahamstown).

The habitat is fynbos slopes and coastal mountains at all elevations found in the region, receiving medium to high rainfall. The habitat population is considered of least concern early in the twenty first century.

This plant traditionally enjoys a position of honour among the proteas and, as the national flower of South Africa, among all indigenous plants. It is cherished, also as the emblem of many local sports teams. The big, spectacular flowerheads are recognized widely, inspiring gardeners of every new generation to grow it as a prestigious garden item. The king protea is these days grown and sold as a cut flower and nursery plant in many countries (Manning, 2007; Rebelo, 1995; Rourke, 1980; Eliovson, 1973; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).