Leucospermum bolusii - 5 Seed Pack - Indigenous Endemic Cut Flower Fynbos Protea Shrub, New

Leucospermum commonly known as Pincushions is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae, indigenous to South Africa and Zimbabwe, where they occupy a variety of habitats, including fynbos, scrub, forest, and mountain slopes. The majority of them occur in the winter rainfall regions of the Western Cape Province. They are evergreen shrubs or rarely small trees growing from 50cm to 5m tall and are also well suited to being used in rockeries and pots. The leaves are spirally arranged, tough and leathery, with a serrated margin. The beautiful flowers are produced in dense inflorescences, which have large numbers of prominent styles, which inspired the common name. An added attraction during flowering time is the numerous birds attracted to the plants. The genus is closely related in evolution and appearance to the Australian genus Banksia.

Leucospermum bolusii commonly known as Gordon's Bay Pincushion in English and Witluisiesbos in Afrikaans is quite unusual for a pincushion in that its flowers are a creamy white colour where they are normally a striking orange or yellow. It is also an easy one to grow, and it is a good cut flower. Leucospermum bolusii is a South African endemic species found in the Western Cape Province from Gordon's Bay to Kogel Bay. It grows into a rounded shrub, about 1.5 m tall. The leaves are hairy when young, and have one apical tooth. The flower heads are flat and rounded, about 20 mm in diameter, each one made up of 50 - 100 small tubular flowers. The buds are encased by pinkish red bracts, and the flowers are creamy white in colour and strongly sweet scented. The fragrance is very noticeable on windless evenings. Flowering time is spring to midsummer (September to December), peaking in late October to early November. The nut-like seeds drop out of the flowers about two months after flowering.