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Leucospermum 'Scarlet Ribbon' (Nodding Pincushion) – A dense compact shrub to 4 to 5 feet tall by as wide with attractive 2-inch-long olive-green leaves that have a toothed apex and from February through April, and often well into summer, it produces an abundance of 4 inch wide pincushion flowers. The multi-colored flower heads start a salmon pink color and then open to expose the orange yellow perianth styles and shiny red tepals that look like ribbons.
Plant in well-drained soil, along with full sun to ensure a bountiful bloom. This cultivar tolerates a wider range of soils, and has above average frost tolerance, being hardy to about 25 degrees. It is also known to produce its showy flowers in profusion within one year of planting.
Leucospermum 'Scarlet Ribbon' is a hybrid created by the Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute (VOPI) in South Africa in 1974 as a cross between Leucospermum glabrum and Leucospermum tottum with this resulting seedling hybrid selected in 1980. It was originally named 'Bluebeard' in 1983 but was later registered with Plant Breeders Rights under the name 'Scarlet Ribbon' in 1992 but is often seen listed incorrectly as 'Scarlet Ribbons' (ending with an "s"). The name for the genus comes from the Greek word 'leukos' meaning "white" and and 'sperma' meaning "seed" in reference to the white fleshy skin, called a elaiosome, that covers the seeds. We have grown this durable and attractive shrub since 1999.
The information about Leucospermum 'Scarlet Ribbon' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
