Flower · GBIF taxon 5637947
King Protea
Protea cynaroidesAlso known as Giant Protea, Honeypot, King Sugar Bush
King proteas produce extraordinary bowl-shaped flower heads up to 30 centimeters across, framed by striking pink or cream bracts that resemble an artichoke. Deep underground lignotubers store water and nutrients, enabling these shrubs to sprout anew after sweeping fynbos wildfires. Specialized proteoid root clusters absorb scarce nutrients from nutrient-poor sandstone soils while feeding a rich community of endemic sunbirds and sugarbirds.
FloweringFire-adaptedFynbos Native
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil Minerals
Predators
- Chacma Baboon
- Protea Beetle
- Caterpillars
ThreatsHabitat loss, invasive alien plants, inappropriate fire regimes, Phytophthora root rot
HabitatsFynbos shrublands, mountain slopes, sandstone soils
Life spanUp to 50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderProteales
- FamilyProteaceae
- GenusProtea
- SpeciesProtea cynaroides
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Best Viewing: Look for blooms year-round, peaking in late winter and spring across coastal fynbos trails.
- Photography: Focus on the intricate pink bracts and central flower mass in early morning light.
- Protection: Refrain from picking wild blooms to protect nectar sources for endemic birds.
Pollinator (c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Rebelo · cc-by-sa
Pollinator (c) Thibaud Aronson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Thibaud Aronson · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Karen Eichholz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Karen Eichholz · cc-by
Family Member (c) linkie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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