South Africa has no shortage of Leucadendon species – 80 of them. They are evergreen small trees or shrubs with colourful bracts or cones at their branch tips. From this treasure chest of a dioecious genus (separate male and female plants), breeders took their inspiration by crossing some of them to create very decorative hybrids that are cherished in the cut flower world for their long-lasting stems in the vase.
The good news for gardeners, is that we have easy access to them as well to plant in our gardens or in pots to enjoy for many years. They are adaptable to both summer and winter rainfall regions, are quite easy to grow, and are made for cutting!
How to grow them
Climatic conditions
Leucadendrons need full sun to enhance their beautiful foliage colours. All five of them are moderately frost-tolerant once well established. However, young plants should be protected for the first two years against frost.
Soil
Sandy, rocky, acidic soil is first prize but good loam soil that drains very well is also fine. You can use quality compost to aid drainage, but work it well into the excavated soil. If you are going to plant them in pots, use a commercial soil mix formulated for fynbos or good quality potting soil.
Caution
This story is from the June 2023 edition of The Gardener.
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This story is from the June 2023 edition of The Gardener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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