Leucospermums New Zealand
Each year a different plant seems to stand out from the crowd and this year it was the leucospermums. And I think they are my favourite members of the protea family.
Their best known relations include leucadendron, banksia, waratah, grevillea, our New Zealand knightia and, perhaps surprisingly, macadamia nuts.
Leucospermums are the ones that sometimes go by the common name of 'Pincushion' because of the prominent stamens which usually curve inwards.
Orange shades are the most common but the pure, clear yellow is also very showy.
These South African shrubs do have a few basic requirements but as long as those are provided they thrive on neglect.
Firstly they must have good drainage so are really best suited to sandy or volcanic soils.
Then they need a sunny, preferably open situation. They hate to be constantly wet especially in summer when warm wet soils and humidity mean ideal conditions for root rot.
Therefore, they are not for folk who like to wave a hose around or, worse still, those that supply their plants with an automatic watering system.
We also find that like other members of the family, they have a dislike of weed killers.
They are quite happy to forgo fertilisers and the only sort they tolerate is a slow release packed in Australia for Australian natives.
During a prolonged dry spell in their first summer - after that they fend for themselves - I will give one or two deep soaks around the roots and I like to mulch new plants with a few rocks to keep the roots cool.
Most hybrids tend to have a slightly hairy foliage and that is best kept dry.
Leucospermums flower for a long time and the flowers, which themselves are very sturdy and don't bruise easily, last well both on the bush and once picked for floral display.
Although the various hybrids vary a little, we find they usually start into bloom during September and are tailing off around Christmas.
When they have finished flowering, the old flowers should be removed, just as if you were picking the flowers for floral work.
That encourages the plant to bush and as they flower on the stem tips, will mean even more flowers next year. Like all pruning, it is best done on a dry day.
When we think of these plants, we usually think orange flowers but there are several different hybrids available with some tending slightly pink and the yellows are becoming more common.
While those with inward curving stamens are my favourite and seem the easiest to grow, the older stamens of L. Reflexum reflex back as the flower matures and so give rise to the common name of 'Skyrocket Leucospermum'.
The orange form of this is the most common in New Zealand but again there is now a yellow flowered form available.
