Description: Leucospermum cordifolium Seeds(Sow in autumn) Perhaps the best known member of the genus, and among the finest landscape shrubs in existence, Pincushions offer a splash of color in the garden and, when mature, offer an abundance of magnificent, long-lasting cut-flowers that can last a full month in a vase. Forming neat, compact and spreading shrubs that will reach heights of 4-5', and cover the ground to about 6' wide. The colorful flowers appear mainly in spring and early summer, but may start blooming in late fall and winter, in mild regions. The dome-shaped flower heads measure about 4" across, with the individual tube-shaped flowers curled like ribbons at the center. The flowers may be yellow, pinkish yellow or orange - with these seeds offered being harvested from bright orange flowered shrubs - with the flower color coming true from seed. They may start blooming in their third year, and blooming prolifically in the fourth, with large, mature shrubs bearing hundreds of flowers in a season! The leaves of L. cordifolium are green and broad, measuring about 3" long and an inch wide, that are at regular intervals along the sturdy, gracefully curved branches. The bushes remain attractive for up to 10 years and flower so abundantly that they generally die after this period. So it's a good idea to put in more plants after about 5 or 6 years. Coming from winter rainfall regions of the South Western Cape of South Africa, these seeds are best sown in autumn. Naturally found growing in full sun, in soils derived from sandstone and gravel, they require being planted in areas with well-drained soil and excellent air movement. Hardy zones 9 and above, with seedlings being protected from frost. Will tolerate being planted along the coast. Deer Resistant. Each packet contains 7 Seeds with special smoke primer, a small zip-loc bag for treating the seeds, and detailed sowing instructions. Please note: The seeds that I ship are fresh and viable. Proteas and their relatives may be temperamental, and their seeds can be a challenge to start. When the included sowing instructions are followed closely, the success rate for germination should be high. I start the same seeds and have over a 95% germination rate. I have been procuring Protea seeds from South Africa, from the same source, for over 40 years, and have always been satisfied with their quality and viability! For best results, the Protea seeds (and seeds of their relatives) that are being offered are best sown in the fall - from late September to mid November. Depending on variety, seed to first bloom can take anywhere from 3 to 7 years. Sowing seeds requires cleanliness, practice and patience, and frequently have specific requirements and pretreatments. There is a learning curve. I say this because people generally blame the seeds or the seller for a failure in germination, when, in actuality, it is generally because of the one doing the sowing... With that said, I wish you the best of luck with the seeds, and if you have any questions with getting them started, please feel free to contact me - I'm here to help! I've been growing and collecting rare and exotic plants for nearly 50 years and sowing seeds has been a specialty. Most of the trees and shrubs that are growing in my 4 acre garden have been started from seeds; there is something very satisfying about that. All photos are of plants in my own collection - unless stated otherwise. NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING - SORRY - I ONLY SHIP TO THE US. I do combine shipping for multiple items - please request a new shipping total before checking out. Thank you! Upon arrival of the seeds/cutting/plant, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. I want you to be happy with your purchase and to have the greatest success in its cultivation!
Price: 9 USD
Location: Fort Bragg, California
End Time: 2024-08-19T03:02:02.000Z
Shipping Cost: 6 USD
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Climate: Sub-tropical, Temperate, Marine West Coast, Mediterranean
Planting Time: Fall
Common Name: Orange Pincushion
Indoor/Outdoor: Outdoor
Color: Various
Growth Habit: Shrub
USDA Hardiness Zone (°F): 9 (20 to 30 °F)
MPN: NA
Plant Habit: Bush/Shrub
Soil Type: Well-drained
Brand: Hortus Botanicus
Season of Interest: Year Around
Soil pH: Lightly Acidic
Type: Bush & Shrub Seeds
Life Cycle: Perennial
Watering: Light
Genus: Leucospermum
Sunlight: Full Sun
Foliage: Evergreen
Features: Cut Flowers, Deer Resistant, Draught Resistant, Evergreen, Flowering
Cultivating Difficulty: Very Hard
Country/Region of Manufacture: South Africa