Leucospermum cuneiforme (Pincushion) - A dense evergreen shrub with hairy pale grey stems and leathery leaves with squared notched tips. Grows to 6 feet tall and as wide. The yellow flowers change colors to an orange color and finally mature as red. Bloom period is winter through early spring.
Plant in well-drained, amended (acidic) soil, along with full sun to ensure a bountiful bloom. It is drought tolerant and cold hardy to about 25 degrees F. Though relatively short lived in the garden, on average lasting about eight years, these plants can be a major and dramatic focal point in the garden and the flowers are great in arrangements.
This is the most widespread pincushion with a range of habitats and climate types in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa that includes winter rainfall and summer rainfall area as well as areas were rainfall is evenly spread throughout the year and from grassland, forests, arid fynbos (similar to our chaparral), subtropical coastal dune forests and the margins of cool temperate evergreen forests but always on soils derived sandstone, quartzite or stabilized coastal sand. 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. The specific epithet is from the Latin words 'cuneus' meaning "wedge" or "wedge-shaped" and 'folium' meaning "leaf" in reference to its wedge shaped leaves.
The information about Leucospermum cuneiforme 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. |