Leucadendrons appear everywhere at this time of the year with their bright colours starting to show already.  They are particularly valuable in the garden in winter as there is little else that is in flower – not to mention colourful to pick.

Some of the best red varieties are L. ‘Safari Sunset’ (of course) which was raised in N.Z. in 1964 and without a doubt has been the most significant hybrid bred for many years.   A finer foliage red flowered variety which gives a finer look in the garden and for picking is L. salignum ‘Mrs Stanley’ or ‘Jack Harre’.  ‘Inca Gold’ is still hard to be beaten for a bright yellow. 

Leucadendrons are part of the Proteaceae family and are particular about their growing conditions.  In the wild they thrive in conditions that can only be described as “arid”or  “impoverished”.  Therefore to grow Leucadendrons, Proteas or Leucospernum you must try to emulate these types of conditions and not lavish attention upon them!

So, the theory is – don’t fertilise, except occasionally with slow release acidic fertiliser and water well the first year – once plants are established you can practically leave them to their own devices as far as drought is concerned.  Planting in autumn or winter enables your new plants to establish and  once summer comes your plant should be able to cope with whatever droughts maybe enforced upon us.

Leucadendrons are inclined to become leggy.  To prevent this from happening you simply have to pick them!  Pick long stems each year to encourage your plants to become bushy and not taller and taller and taller.  Just like a rose – prune them hard every year and you will be rewarded for more blooms than the year before.

Follow the few tips above and you will be rewarded with wonderful blooms and foliage for picking right the way through winter and into early summer.