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king protea plants for sale nz

If you’re searching for king protea plants for sale NZ, you’ve come to the right place. At our nursery, we offer Protea cynaroides, known as King Protea or Giant Protea, one of the most striking flowering shrubs you can grow in your New Zealand garden. With its impressive, oversized blooms—often regarded as the largest flower in the protea family—the King Protea transforms garden beds, borders, and pots into extraordinary displays. Native to South Africa but thriving across much of New Zealand, this resilient shrub is renowned for its dramatic crown-shaped flowers, leathery foliage, and ability to attract birds and pollinators.

Protea cynaroides (King Protea)

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King Protea, Giant Protea

Protea cynaroides, commonly known as the King Protea or Giant Protea, features flowers with deep crimson bracts and a cream-coloured centre from autumn through until spring. It grows as a woody shrub, reaching approximately 1.2 m in height and 1.5 m in width. Protea cynaroides is a versatile plant that is often included in mixed plantings, added to coastal plantings, planted around pool areas, or grown anywhere the beauty of its large flowers can be enjoyed.

A Protea cynaroides (King Protea) flower.
  • Suited to regions:
    All regions
  • Plant type:
    Shrubs
  • Height:
    1.20 m
  • Spread:
    1.50 m
  • Flowering time:
    Spring, Autumn, Winter
  • Tolerances:
    Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy
  • Garden uses:
    Containers, Living areas, Pool areas
  • Garden styles:
    Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Mediterranean, Modern, Rock
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Most Popular Protea 'Tsitsikamma'

Protea 'Tsitsikamma' is a striking evergreen shrub that produces bold flower heads in soft pink to red tones with a silvery sheen. This eye catching...

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Protea 'Sylvia' orange and pink flower.
Most Popular Protea 'Sylvia'

Protea 'Sylvia' is a striking evergreen shrub that produces soft pink flower heads with a refined and elegant appearance. This variety is well suited...

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Most Popular Protea 'Red Ice'

Protea 'Red Ice' is a striking evergreen shrub that produces bold red flower heads with a silvery contrast, creating strong visual appeal. This hardy...

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Most Popular Protea 'Coronet Peak'

Protea 'Coronet Peak' is a striking evergreen shrub that produces bold flower heads in soft pink to red tones with a silvery sheen. This eye catching...

Protea 'Little Prince' flower.
Most Popular Protea 'Little Prince'

Protea 'Little Prince' is a compact evergreen shrub admired for its large soft pink flower heads with a silvery sheen. Flowering from autumn into...

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Most Popular Leptospermum nana 'Huia'

Leptospermum 'Nana Huia' is a compact, evergreen tea tree admired for its delicate, dark green foliage and rich red spring flowers. Growing to around...

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Most Popular Camellia 'Black Lace'

Camellia 'Black Lace' is a dramatic evergreen shrub admired for its deep velvety red blooms set against glossy dark green foliage. Flowering from...

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Corokia cheesemanii shrub with grey-green foliage growing in a border garden.
Most Popular Corokia cheesemanii

Corokia cheesemanii is a hardy, NZ native shrub that grows with a bushy habit and features attractive, olive green-silver foliage. The small leaves...

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Rosmarinus officinalis 'Mozart' shrubs in a border garden covered in blue flowers.
Most Popular Rosmarinus 'Mozart'

Rosmarinus 'Mozart' is a highly aromatic rosemary variety admired for its compact growth habit and striking blue mauve flowers that appear throughout...

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Most Popular Azalea 'Dr Van Slyieken' (Azalea Dr Van Slyieken)

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Protea cynaroides (King Protea)

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Why Choose the King Protea (Protea cynaroides)?

The King Protea is a showstopper, celebrated for spectacular blooms up to 30cm across. These flowers make exceptional cut flowers and focal points in landscape design, lasting for weeks when displayed indoors. King Protea plants are drought-tolerant, frost-resistant (once established), and suited to coastal conditions—making them ideal for gardens throughout NZ, from Auckland to Christchurch. Their unique foliage offers architectural interest year-round, while the flowers add vivid colour in late winter to spring.

Growing King Protea in New Zealand

King Protea thrives in well-drained soils and sunny locations. With minimal maintenance, these shrubs will reward you with stunning blooms, year after year. Plant them in sandy, acidic soil, avoid too much fertiliser, and ensure good airflow. Once established, they require little additional watering, making them suitable for low-maintenance gardens. If you’re keen to plant a protea garden, consider combining King Protea with other species such as Protea Fiery Sunset, Protea Franciscan, or Protea Little Prince. These companions provide complementary colour and size, helping you create a vibrant, flowering landscape.

Protea Varieties to Complement Your King Protea

Expand your protea collection with exciting varieties that thrive in similar conditions. The stunning Protea Susanne and Protea Red Ice are popular choices for NZ gardens, offering striking hues and unique flower forms. For gardeners interested in mixing textures and foliage, consider versatile New Zealand natives such as Brachyglottis repanda (Rangiora), or create seasonal colour with Azalea 'Show Girl', Azalea Hardijzer Beauty, and compact shrubs like Nandina Harbor Dwarf. Each species plays a role in designing a garden that bursts with texture, interest, and year-round appeal. Curate your ideal mix of shrubs and flowering plants, and enjoy a garden that’s uniquely yours.

Order Your King Protea Plants Today

Browse our range and secure your king protea plants for sale NZ. Whether you’re starting a new garden, refreshing a border, or looking for hardy, architectural flowering shrubs, Protea cynaroides is an outstanding choice. Don’t forget to explore related varieties and companion plants such as Sambucus nigra 'Aurea' (European Elderberry) for even more garden diversity. With expert advice and healthy plants ready for dispatch, you can enjoy bold, beautiful proteas in your garden this season.


Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

–The Plant Company

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