Protea 'Pink Ice' - Evergreen Trees Direct

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Protea 'Pink Ice'

$310.00

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Size: 40cm/45L

40cm/45L

Current Stock Height Guides

40cm/45L: Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 1.5m to 2.5m

Mature Width: 1.5m to 2m

Protea 'Pink Ice' is expected to grow 20cm to 40cm per year.

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Contact

Have a question or a list to send through to us?

Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Protea 'Pink Ice'

Protea 'Pink Ice' is an evergreen shrub bred from Protea compacta and Protea neriifolia, grown for large goblet shaped pink blooms held above narrow grey green leaves. The habit is dense and upright, and the flowers last for weeks on the bush. It is the most dependable of the garden proteas.

It needs full sun, open airflow and sharply drained, slightly acidic soil, ideally sandy or gravelly. Warm temperate, Mediterranean and coastal climates suit it best, and it handles salt wind well. Once established it is drought tolerant and takes light to moderate frost. Use only low phosphorus fertiliser, since proteas resent phosphorus.

Plant it as a feature shrub, in coastal and water wise gardens, on embankments or as a low informal screen. It is also a serious cut flower, holding form and colour in the vase far longer than most. For a difficult sunny site with poor soil, there are few better performers.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Protea 'Pink Ice'

What is Protea 'Pink Ice'?

Protea 'Pink Ice' is a hardy evergreen shrub, a hybrid between Protea compacta and Protea neriifolia from the South African Proteaceae family. It is known for large, long lasting pink flower heads and narrow silvery grey green foliage. Of all the garden proteas it is the most reliable across a range of Australian conditions.

How big does Protea 'Pink Ice' grow?

It generally reaches around two to three metres tall with a spread of 1.5 to two metres, forming a dense upright shrub. Regular picking of the blooms keeps it more compact and encourages branching. In poorer, drier soils it will sit at the lower end of that range without any loss of flowering.

When does Protea 'Pink Ice' flower?

It flowers from autumn right through to spring, roughly March to November, which is an unusually long season. The blooms open gradually and hold on the plant for weeks at a time. That winter flowering habit is a large part of why it is planted, since it carries colour when little else is out.

What soil and position does it need?

Full sun and sharp drainage are non negotiable. Sandy, gravelly or rocky soil on the acidic side is ideal, and raised beds or slopes help where the ground is heavy. Keep air moving around the plant. Never use standard fertiliser on it, since the phosphorus in most products damages protea roots.

Is Protea 'Pink Ice' frost and drought tolerant?

Yes to both, once established. It handles light to moderate frost without damage, which makes it workable in most temperate districts. Drought tolerance is genuine after the first couple of years, as the root system is adapted to dry, nutrient poor ground. Young plants still need reliable water through their first summers.

Is it suitable for coastal gardens?

It is well suited to them. Salt laden wind and sandy soils are close to the conditions it evolved in on the Cape coast, and coastal gardens often provide the drainage and airflow it wants. Avoid positions where it sits in a hollow with still, humid air, since that encourages root and stem problems.

How do I prune and care for Protea 'Pink Ice'?

Prune as you pick, cutting flower stems with a length of leafy wood attached to keep the bush dense. Do the main tidy up straight after the flowering season finishes. Water deeply but occasionally, mulch with a coarse material, and feed only with a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring if growth needs help.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

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Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Feature Tree

Protea 'Pink Ice' works in an:

Australian Native Garden – celebrates local plants with natural character.
Mediterranean Style Garden – timeless courtyard look with stone, pots, and bold greenery.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Cottage Garden – romantic mix of flowers, colour, and texture.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Protea 'Pink Ice' Evergreen or Deciduous?

Protea 'Pink Ice' is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 1.5m to 2.5m

Mature Width: 1.5m to 2m

Protea 'Pink Ice' is expected to grow 20cm to 40cm per year.

Growth Rate of Protea 'Pink Ice'

Protea 'Pink Ice' is expected to grow 20cm to 40cm per year.

They are considered to have a:

Medium Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Protea 'Pink Ice'

Is Protea 'Pink Ice' frost tolerant?

Protea 'Pink Ice' is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.

Does Protea 'Pink Ice' Flower?

Protea ‘Pink Ice’ produces large, striking pink flower heads from late autumn through spring. The blooms are firm, sculptural and long-lasting, with neatly overlapping bracts that create a bold, architectural display among the tough grey-green foliage.

Does Protea 'Pink Ice' flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Autumn
Spring

Flower Type:

Clustered

Flower Colour:

Pink

Is Protea 'Pink Ice' an Australian Native Tree?

No

Protea 'Pink Ice' is Native to A hybrid between South African species (Protea compacta × Protea susannae), bred for resilience and garden performance.

What is the Wildlife Value of Protea 'Pink Ice' ?

Its nectar-rich flowers attract honeyeaters, bees, butterflies and a variety of beneficial insects, supporting pollinators through the cooler months. The sturdy structure also provides perching opportunities for small birds, while the flowers offer significant ecological value for nectar feeders.

How much Sunlight does Protea 'Pink Ice' need?

Protea 'Pink Ice' will thrive best in:

Full Sun

Preferred Soil?

Protea ‘Pink Ice’ performs best in well-drained sandy or light loam soils and requires slightly acidic, low-phosphorus conditions. It will struggle or fail in heavy clay, rich organic soils or any position prone to waterlogging unless extensively improved with coarse sand and low-nutrient materials. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then transition to deep, infrequent watering as the plant matures to support drought resilience, strong root development and prolific flowering.

Is Protea 'Pink Ice' Drought Tolerant?

Is Protea 'Pink Ice' Drought tolerant?

As a young plant it requires careful, regular watering, but once established ‘Pink Ice’ develops excellent drought tolerance. Naturally adapted to poor, dry, sandy conditions, it thrives with minimal supplemental watering and performs reliably in hot, exposed and coastal environments.

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How To Plant Your Protea 'Pink Ice'

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Protea 'Pink Ice'

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Protea 'Pink Ice' is expected to grow 20cm to 40cm per year.

Medium Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Protea 'Pink Ice'

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, this is drought tolerant and only needs a deep soak during extended dry periods.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Light tip prune in late winter to maintain shape, and remove lower branches as the tree grows to develop a clean feature trunk.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Protea 'Pink Ice' in Different Soil

Protea 'Pink Ice' performs best in free-draining loam or sandy loam with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is sharp.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch lightly to moderate surface temperature.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and coarse organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline preferred. Avoid waterlogging at all times.