Description
PROTEACEAE
“Ribbon pincushion”
- 15 seeds per packet
Shrub grows to 2m.
Lanceolate hairless leaves.
Lovely pinkish flowers in Spring – Summer.
Should be sown in Autumn when the difference between day and night temperatures is about 12°C.
Leucospermum tottum
PROTEACEAE
Price range: R25.00 through R160.00
SANBI Red List: http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=795-68
PlantZAfrica: https://pza.sanbi.org/leucospermum-tottum
Additional information
| Quantity | Per 100, Per Packet |
|---|
Growing Hints
Leucospermum require good day/night temperature fluctuation as we get from the end of our summer (end March) into autumn- warm days – cooler nights.
The nut seeded species germinate well if the seed is heated for a very short burst followed by rapid cooling as would happen as a fire sweeps through the natural environment. This serves to crack the hard seed coat allowing oxygen and moisture to enter and the endosperm to germinate.
Pre-treatment …
- Place seed in cold room 2 weeks prior to sowing.
- Soak seed in water for 24 hours to soften the seed coat.
- Remove the elaisome covering (the white plastic-like coating).Underneath the seed is black. You can rub the elaisome off with your fingers or place in a collecting bag and rub. The seed is so hard you will not damage it.
- Mix up the following treatment… 400ml Hydrogen Peroxide 1% solution, 800ml water, 5ml smoke water (stored in milk containers in the cold room!)
- Place seeds in this solution for 24 hours. You will see that the seeds that previously floated now sink.
- Rinse the seeds with water, just before ready to sow, a day or two.
- Pat dry and dust with fungicide
Sow the seeds as soon as possible.
Rather than throw away seeds that do not float plant them they sometimes still germinate.
