The Snow Protea (Protea cryophilla) is a magnificent plant with flowering cones the size of the King Protea. Instead of being predominantly red it is a beautiful, snowy white and it is 130 - 160 mm in diameter.
The Snow Protea grows exclusively in isolated parts of the Cederberg Wilderness Area and grows mainly in small belt of about 25 km. It is found nowhere else in the world than in the Cederberg.
The Cederberg Wilderness Area falls within the world renowned Fynbos Biome. Only 220 km from Cape Town, this 71 000-ha mountain complex is managed by Cape Nature Conservation, principally for conservation of the pure, silt-free water of this catchment area, as a recreation area (one of the few areas in this country where visitors can enjoy the 'wilderness experience') and as a sanctuary for the bio diverse Cape fynbos.
Various endangered endemic fynbos species can be found in this area. The most notable of these are the Clanwilliam cedar (Widdringtonia cederbergensis) and the Snow Protea (Protea cryophila).
Clanwilliam cedar (Widdringtonia cederbergensis) is unusual specie found in the Cederberg and the mountain range is named after it. Over-exploitation and uncontrolled burning threatened the tree with extinction, but today the Clanwilliam cedar is protected in this wilderness area.
The Snow Protea has been recorded only in a handful of communities. The summit of the Sneeuberg (2028m) is one of the few homes of one of the world's rarest plants. The Snow Protea grows on a few peaks above or near the snow line.
During the winter the plants are covered by snow for weeks. The Snow Protea survives in the most stringent weather conditions, from heat to cold. It usually grows in sandstone soils and cracks of bare rocks.
The flower takes a full year to open and plants seldom have more than 3 to 4 flowers. Flowers can be seen from January to April. Plants can reach up to 70 years of age.
Description text from Encounter South Africa
