Protea cynaroides ‘Pink King’

Description

Protea ‘Pink King’, known as the ‘King Protea’ in its native ‘South Africa’ is a spectacular plant producing large bowl-shaped long lasting flowers with hints of pink and creamy white colour.

A true collectors plant, not the easiest to grow, requiring free-draining, acidic compost with very low nutrient content.  They also need a very bright, sunny spot and teperatures above 1 degree C during the winter months.  They are however tolerant of coastal conditions and can be seen flourishing in milder cornish gardens.

I’ve grown this for many years in West Sussex, providing them with a bright breezy spot during late spring through to aurumn, against a sunny south west facing wall and bringing them into a frost proof glass house during the frosty months.  It is such an iconic and beautiful plant and definitely worth trying.  Given the right conditions it can be very vigorous and free flowering.