Protea longifolia is a favourite with gardeners and florists. Robust shrubs in the southwestern part of the Western Cape, including the Caledon fynbos, produce these striking flowerheads in abundance during winter and into spring.

The bracts enveloping the bunched mass of individual little florets of each composite flowerhead are white, cream or pink, sometimes tinged with a little green. The fluffy tips of the individual flowers positioned centrally are black culminating in a peak, the outlying ones white.