[4] Common names for the species in the Afrikaans language include blousuikerbos,[7] baardsuikerbos,[4] baardsuikerkan,[4] blou-suikerbos,[4] blousuikerkan,[4] roosboom[4] and suikerbos.

[7][8] Although it was first discovered by Europeans in 1597, and was the subject of a botanical illustration in 1605,[citation needed] the plant was first described as a distinct species according to the modern Linnaean system by the naturalist Robert Brown in his 1810 treatise On the Proteaceae of Jussieu.

[6] It is similar to Protea laurifolia, whose flower heads also possess a hairy black fringe on their bracts, a species found further to the west.

[citation needed] It grows in the mountain ranges of Hottentots Holland, Langeberg, Groot Winterhoek, Elandsberg, Rooiberg, Kammanassie, Potberg,[6] Riviersonderend,[5][6] Kogelberg and Jonkershoek, as well as at Garcia's Pass[5] and near the towns of Tulbagh and Ceres.

During the wildfires which periodically occur in this type of habitat, mature plants of this species are destroyed, but the seeds are able to survive such events.

[citation needed] Plants at the Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens have their flowers visited by the Cape sugarbird (Promerops cafer).

It is also extensively grown commercially for cut flowers, not only in its native South Africa,[7] but also in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and other countries with climatically suitable areas.

In addition to selected cultivars, such as 'Green Ice', 'Margaret Watling' and 'Silvertips', the species has been crossed to produce several hybrids, such as 'Carnival' (P. compacta x P. neriifolia),[citation needed] or perhaps 'Pink Mink'.