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Products > Protea cynaroides 'Arctic Ice'
 
Protea cynaroides 'Arctic Ice' - White King Protea

Note: This plant is no longer in stock. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.  
Image of Protea cynaroides 'Arctic Ice'
 
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Shrub
Family: Proteaceae (Proteas)
Origin: South Africa (Africa)
Evergreen: Yes
Flower Color: White
Bloomtime: Year-round
Height: 3-5 feet
Width: 4-6 feet
Exposure: Full Sun
Seaside: Yes
Summer Dry: Yes
Deer Tolerant: Yes
Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F
Protea cynaroides 'Arctic Ice' (White King Protea) A medium sized shrub to 3 to 5 feet tall and wide with reddish stems holding large rounded green leaves and bearing huge dinner plate sized flowers. Unlike the species, which typically has pale silky pink flowers, this variety 10 to 12 inch wide flowers of pure white. These flowers cover the shrub from autumn to spring with some scattered bloom throughout the year. Plant in full sun in a well-drained, preferably acid, soil. Requires little irrigation and tolerates coastal conditions. Protect from frost and temperatures below 28° F. Cut flowering stems back to base after flowering. It is an attractive garden plant for a nice well-drained site in the garden or as a container specimen and a great cut flower for arrangements. This plant was selected by Geoff Jewell of Te Horo Ornamentals, a New Zealand nursery that specializes in the growing and breeding plants in Protea family. It was submitted for Plant Variety Rights (PVR) in New Zealand in 1996 and granted PVR No.1335 in 1998 but never received a US Plant Patent. The species has a wide distribution through the fynbos in the southern parts of South Africa, an area subject to wildfires for which Protea cynaroides is well adapted to with its thick underground stems that have dormant buds that sprout up after a fire. The genus and plant family is named for the Greek god Proteus, who was able to change between many forms and reflects the incredible variety and diversity of the plants in the family. The specific epithet means like plants in the genus Cynara, the Artichoke, in reference to the similar appearance of the flower buds. Other common names for the species include Giant Protea, Honeypot and King Sugar Bush. We also grow the typical pink flowered species Protea cynaroides and a dwarf form called 'Mini King'

The information displayed on this page about Protea cynaroides 'Arctic Ice' is based on the research we have conducted about it in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.

 
San Marcos Growers, established in 1979, closed for regular business on December 23rd 2025 as the property will be developed for affordable housing.
The gates are closed but we will be open by appointment only as we liquidate remaining plants, supplies and equipment. Our remaining plants are listed on our Live Inventory Page.
 
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