If your garden is looking a bit flat and plain, proteas might just be what it needs.
With colourful, year-round blooms and sculptural shapes, these South African shrubs stand out in any landscape.
But which protea should you plant?
There are more than 100 protea varieties (and probably thousands of cultivars), each with a unique appearance.
That’s why they were named after Proteus, the shape-shifting Greek God!
In this blog, we’ll introduce you to the most well-loved proteas in Australia to help you pick the right type.
Protea Varieties Chart | Proteas with the Largest Flowers | Versatile Proteas | Proteas with Unique Features | Compact Proteas
Why Grow a Protea?
Many gardeners fall in love with the protea because of its eye-catching blooms.
What most people refer to as the protea “flower” is actually a cluster of tiny flowers.
These florets are held by large, colourful bracts (leaves that look like petals) that form a goblet- or cup-like shape.
Proteas aren’t just handsome, though — they’re also great for the ecosystem.
They produce loads of nectar that attracts birds and bees, which is why they’re sometimes called ‘sugarbushes.’
Best of all, growing proteas is quite easy.
While they’re not from Australia, they thrive in full sun and well-draining soil, just like our native plants!
They’re also tough enough to handle drought, coastal conditions, and light frost.
Types of Proteas in Australia: A Quick Guide
With so many protea hybrids and cultivars, choosing which to grow can be overwhelming!
New protea varieties are constantly being developed to meet the demand for cut flowers and the plant itself.
Growers look for longer vase life, more colour options, and better resistance to pests and disease.
To help you get started, we’ve listed some of the most popular protea varieties in Australia.
| CATEGORIES | PROTEA TYPES | NOTABLE FEATURES |
| Large, Iconic Flowers | King Protea (P. cynaroides) | The most iconic protea with the largest flowers |
| Queen Protea (P. magnifica) | Has the second-largest flowers in the genus | |
| Duchess Protea (P. eximia) | Features massive blooms with spoon-shaped bracts | |
| Versatile Proteas | Bot River (P. compacta) | Has translucent-looking flowers that seem to glow in light |
| Common Sugarbush (P. repens) | Produces neat-looking, hairless flowers | |
| Narrow-leaf Sugarbush (P. neriifolia) | Velvety flowers that look “bearded” | |
| ‘Pink Ice’ (P. susannae x compacta) | A hybrid with silvery pink blooms | |
| Red Sugarbush (P. grandiceps) | Has tightly cupped bracts that conceal the inner florets | |
| Proteas with Unique Features | Clasping-leaf Protea (P. amplexicaulis) | Low-growing shrub with blooms hidden beneath the leaves |
| Scarlet Sugarbush (P. effusa) | Downward-facing flowers shaped like dragon eggs | |
| Sulphur Sugarbush (P. sulphurea) | Rare, trailing shrub with hanging, sulphur-yellow flowers | |
| Compact Proteas | Dwarf King Protea (P. cynaroides) | Compact King Proteas with smaller flowers |
| Protea Pandora (P. pityphyllis hybrid) | A rare variety with feathery bracts | |
| Thistle Sugarbush (P. scolymocephala) | Dainty yellow-green blooms that look like thistles |
If you’re unsure which protea is best for your space, don’t hesitate to talk to a local gardening professional for tailored advice!
Protea Varieties with the Largest Flowers
Proteas with massive flowers are headturners!
They’re perfect if you want a bold feature plant in the garden, and they also look gorgeous in floral arrangements.
King Protea
If you want a true showstopper in the garden, you can’t go past the King Protea (Protea cynaroides).
P. cynaroides is South Africa’s national flower and the most iconic protea in the world.
It grows into a rounded bush, often 1–2m tall, with thick stems and green, leather-like leaves.
However, it’s best known for its massive, crown-like blooms, which are around 15–30cm wide!
King Protea cultivars come in a range of colours.
‘FROSTED KING’: Has deep red blossoms with a white, fuzzy centre
‘KING PINK’: Has soft, muted pink bracts that fade to an almost-white base
‘KING WHITE’: Has creamy white bracts with a hint of green at the bottom
Queen Protea
The Queen Protea (P. magnifica) has the second-largest flowers in its genus, just after the ‘King’.
The blooms are usually pink and about 15–20 cm across.
Queen Protea grows upright, about 2m tall and 4m wide. While it’s a slow grower, it’s long-lived and can thrive for up to 30 years.
This protea is often used in hybrids, which keep the Queen’s appearance while offering different colours and textures:
‘JULIET’ (P. magnifica × prudens): Has red bracts with silvery or white tips
‘MAYDAY’ (P. magnifica × neriifolia): Has oblong leaves and deep pink to fuchsia blooms with dark tips
‘NIOBE’ (P. magnifica × laurifolia): Has light green or yellow flowers with soft black hairs on the bracts’ edges
Duchess Protea
The Duchess Protea (P. eximia) is a dense, upright shrub that grows about 2–4m high.
It’s also known as the ‘Broad-leaf Sugarbush’ because of its large, prominently veined leaves that are oval or heart-shaped.
The flowers are just as distinctive. You’ll quickly recognise the Duchess with its spoon-shaped inner bracts, which can be pink or deep red.
While the blooms aren’t as massive as the King or Queen Protea, they’re still impressive! Each flower measures about 12cm across when fully open.
Notable P. eximia hybrids include:
‘SYLVIA’ (P. eximia × susannae): A rounded shrub with pink to deep pink bracts and a silvery-white centre
‘AUSTRALIS® PASSION’: Bracts are yellow at the base and pink towards the tips, with a black furry mass at the centre
Versatile Protea Varieties
Whether you want a statement piece, a hedge, or something for the vase, these protea varieties have you covered!
Bot River Protea
The Bot River Protea (P. compacta) comes from South Africa’s Bot River town.
This protea is best known for its wineglass-shaped flower heads that look translucent and glow beautifully in light.
This species grows as a lanky shrub, reaching up to 3.5m tall. It has narrow leaves that curve upwards and clasp the stems.
P. compacta is also a parent of many popular hybrids:
‘BRENDA’ (P. burchelli x compacta): Reddish pink blooms with a splash of yellow at the base of the bracts
‘DONNA’: Creamy white blooms with pink or yellow tips and a pink centre
‘PINK CREAM’: Delicate pink flower heads with a creamy white mass in the middle
Common Sugarbush
Another favourite among Australian gardeners is the P. repens, also called the Common Sugarbush.
The name repens (Latin for “creeping”) is actually a misnomer. This protea doesn’t creep at all — instead, it grows upright with plenty of sturdy branches.
Its cone-shaped flower heads look neat, since unlike other proteas, the bracts don’t have fuzzy hairs.
But what sets the P. repens apart is the generous amount of sweet nectar it produces.
In South Africa, this nectar was once used to make a sweet syrup called “bossiestroop” or “bush syrup.”
908repens cultivars in Australia include:
‘RUBY BLUSH’: Flowers are creamy yellow at the base with ruby red tips
‘VENUS’ (P. repens x aristata): Gorgeous deep red blooms; bracts have white edges
‘HONEYGLOW’: Honey-yellow or creamy-yellow flowers with a white centre
Narrow-leaf Sugarbush
The Narrow-leaf Sugarbush (P. neriifolia) is one of the most widely grown protea species in Australia and around the world.
This protea was named after its long, thin leaves that are dark green with a bluish tinge.
From autumn through spring, P. neriifolia produces large, cone-shaped flower heads.
The blooms have a fuzzy “beard.” Tiny, purple-black or white hairs line the bracts, creating a velvety look.
There are plenty of P. neriifolia cultivars you can grow, depending on the colour you like:
‘RED ROBE’: Deep scarlet bracts that surround a light pink mass of flowers
‘PINK MINK’: Salmon-pink flowers with black hairs and a warm, peach centre
You’ll also find hybrids created specifically for Australian conditions.
‘AUSTRALIS® ICE’: Creamy white blooms with purple-black hairs
‘AUSTRALIS® RUBY: Rich red bracts with soft pink or whitish edges
Protea ‘Pink Ice’
The Protea ‘Pink Ice’ (P. susannae x compacta) is popular in Australian gardens because of its captivating blooms!
In autumn and winter, the Pink Ice produces cone-shaped flower heads, usually dusty pink with a silvery or “frosted” appearance.
Their beauty makes them perfect for bouquets and floral arrangements.
The leaves are just as appealing — narrow, pointed, and dark green with a leathery texture.
Over time, the Protea ‘Pink Ice’ grows into a medium-sized, rounded shrub about 3m tall and 1.5m wide.
It’s moderately cold hardy, coping with temperatures down to –5°C.
Red Sugarbush
The Red Sugarbush (P. grandiceps) is an upright shrub with stiff, bluish-green leaves with red margins.
True to its name, the Red Sugarbush produces large, deep red flower heads. They stand out beautifully against the cool-toned foliage.
The flowers are made up of hairy bracts that curve inwards. They hide a cream-coloured floral mass that never fully shows.
P. grandiceps hasn’t produced many hybrids or cultivars, mostly because it’s a slow grower.
Protea Varieties with Unique Features
Some proteas can add a little surprise to your garden.
Some varieties hug the ground, while others have hanging flowers or leaves that change with the seasons!
Clasping-leaf Protea
The Clasping-leaf Protea (P. amplexicaulis) grows differently from other proteas. It’s a sprawling shrub that stays just about 0.5m tall.
As it matures, the stems eventually trail or hang, creating a graceful, cascading effect.
The Clasping-leaf Protea is not showy, though. While it produces maroon or purple flowers, they’re often tucked hidden beneath the leaves!
Still, the leaves more than make up for it. They’re greyish-green with pretty pink edges, giving the plant an ornamental look.
As a low-growing plant, P. amplexicaulis is often used as a ground cover.
However, you can also plant it over slopes, near the edges of a retaining wall, or in a pot.
Scarlet Sugarbush
The Scarlet Sugarbush (P. effusa) has one-of-a-kind flower heads — the shape is ovoid and often compared to dragon eggs!
What makes them even more intriguing is that they hang downwards. This drooping habit helps protect the nectar and pollen from rain.
The blooms also showcase a subtle gradient that adds to the plant’s charm.
At the base, the petals are pale yellow to creamy white. Toward the tips, the colours turn into shades of orange, pink, salmon, or light red.
Some P. effusa plants stay close to the ground, but nursery-grown plants are usually upright and can reach up to 2m tall.
Sulphur Sugarbush
With colour-shifting foliage and lovely flowers, the Sulphur Sugarbush (P. sulphurea) stands out in any garden!
The leaves, which are held by reddish stems, change with the seasons.
They start bluish-green, become yellowish during dry spells, and put on pastel tones in the cooler months.
P. sulphurea’s flowers are just as lovely. It produces rounded, sulphur-yellow blooms, which give this protea its name.
Sulphur sugarbush is a low-growing shrub often used as a groundcover, but it can also thrive in containers.
Compact Protea Varieties
Compact proteas are ideal for smaller spaces or pots.
They’re a great way to add colour to your garden without overcrowding!
Dwarf King Protea cultivars
If you want the regal-looking King Protea but find it a bit too large, you can still grow one!
Go for dwarf cultivars like the ‘Autumn Prince,’ ‘Little Prince, ’ and ‘White Crown’ instead.
‘AUTUMN PRINCE’: Reaches up to 1m tall and produces salmon-pink flowers around 15cm wide
‘LITTLE PRINCE’: Also grows to about 1m tall, with smaller, deep pink to reddish blooms measuring around 5cm across
‘WHITE CROWN’: The most petite King Protea at about 60cm tall with white to light green blooms just 4–5cm in diameter
Protea ‘Pandora’
Protea ‘Pandora’ is a hybrid of P. pityphylla, a rare and near-threatened protea species.
While the original form is hard to come by, hybrids like ‘Pandora’ are more commonly available in garden centres.
This compact shrub grows to about 0.75–1m tall and wide, a great choice for large pots or sunny balconies.
Its dark green, elongated leaves create a tidy, structured look.
‘Pandora’ produces striking red flowers with a soft, feather-like appearance, which adds a bold look to small spaces!
Thistle Sugarbush
Another neat, compact protea ideal for containers is the Thistle Sugarbush (P. scolymocephala).
This variety typically grows to about 1.5m tall, but you can prune it if you’d like to keep it smaller.
Unlike most proteas with massive blooms, the Thistle Sugarbush has dainty flowers, which are just 4–5cm wide.
Each blossom features yellowish-green to creamy green tones, with a flush of reddish pink on the outer bracts.
It looks similar to the prickly thistle flower, which is how the plant got its name!
FAQs About Different Protea Varieties
Keep reading to learn more about different types of proteas!
What is the prettiest protea?
It’s subjective, but many consider Protea ‘Pink Ice’ as the prettiest variety, with its soft pink bracts that have a silvery sheen.
But if you’re after the most iconic and dramatic species, it’s got to be the King Protea.
It’s often called the ‘True Protea’ because of its enormous flower heads that can reach up to 30cm wide.
Other stunners are:
- P. repens: Produces tidy-looking, hairless flowers
- P. compacta: Famous for its translucent, glowing bracts
- P. scolymocephala: A delicate beauty with dainty blooms
What is the easiest protea to grow?
Most proteas are fairly easy to grow as long as the conditions are suitable.
The key is getting the soil right. As proteas have sensitive roots, they need low-phosphorus, free-draining soil.
You also need to water newly-planted proteas regularly and keep them in a sunny spot.
Once established, proteas are tough plants that can thrive with little care. They can handle drought and even a bit of frost!
Which proteas are native to Australia?
No protea species is native to Australia — their origin is South Africa.
However, some Australian native plants look like proteas, such as banksia, grevillea, and waratah.
Along with proteas, they all belong to the Proteaceae family, which explains their similar appearance and growing needs!
