Most proteas occur in the fire prone area of the Cape Floral kingdom and are specially adapted for these conditions.

Protea susannae stores its seeds on the plant in the fire-proof seed heads for years. In the event of a fire, the seeds are released after the bush has been killed. This fire-survival strategy works as long as the plants have sufficient time between fires to build up a new seed bank. The hairs on the seeds aid in dispersal. The hairs expand as the seed head opens and forces the seed out. The hair gives the seed buoyancy in high winds.

Plants growing in nutrient-poor soil often form a symbiosis with soil-living fungi to assist with water and nutrient uptake. Most Fynbos plants make use mycorrhizae. Proteas are unusual in not having any symbiosis with mycorrhizae. However, they produce masses of lateral roots along their normal roots. These roots are called proteoid roots and they are produced in the leaf litter layer after rain. The rain promotes the decay of the leaf litter which results in the release of nutrients. These roots usually shrivel at the end of the growth season. They are twice as efficient as normal roots in absorbing water and nutrients.