GARDENJEWELS
GARDENJEWELS
Leucospermums
Leucospermums
Blanche Ito
Groundfire
Lava Glow
Golden Glow
The Leucospermum genus is a coveted member of the Proteaceae family, decorated with its striking and exotic pincushion flowers. It is generally shrub like, but can also be seen lower growing in the form of creepers. Leucospermum is recognised for its pincushion shaped flower display, however there is some distinct variance in the colour and organisation of the bracts on the flower heads across each species.
Leucospermum species mostly have seated, simple, mostly leathery, often softly hairy leaves, set in a spiral, with entire margins or more often, with 3–17 blunt teeth with thickened, bony tips, and without stipules at their foot. The flowers are organised with many together in heads with bracts on the under- or outside.
The flower heads are seated or have a short stalk, and grow individually in species with large heads or with two to ten together in species with smaller heads, in the axils of the leaves near the end of the branches. The general shape of the heads is a flattened, round, egg- or cone-shaped sphere of 2–15 cm (0.79–5.91 in) in diameter.
A leucospermum flower itself is truly the star of the show. The beautiful, pincushion-like blooms are brilliantly coloured in red, orange or yellow from Spring to early Summer.
LEUCOSPERMUM PLANT CARE
LEUCOSPERMUM PLANT CARE
Leucospermum plant care consists primarily of keeping the plant well drained and aerated. Although the plant is somewhat drought-tolerant, it benefits from regular water during warm, dry weather. Water early in the morning so the plant has all day to dry before the arrival of cooler temperatures in evening. Water at the base of the plant and keep the foliage as dry as possible. The foliage should be kept as dry as possible. Be careful not to overwater, and never let the pot stand in water. Always remove fading blooms to encourage continued blooming.
HOW TO GROW LEUCOSPERMUMS
HOW TO GROW LEUCOSPERMUMS
Leucospermum growing conditions include full sunlight and poor, well-drained, acidic soil. Drainage is so critical, in fact, that the plant is often placed on elevated mounds or slopes. Similarly, these plants may not survive in rich soil or in crowded conditions where air circulation is limited. For this reason, Leucospermum plants should not be fertilised.
