Description
PROTEACEAE
“Catherine-wheel Pincushion”
3m tall plant
Yellowish-green foliage
Red-gold flower in early Summer
Very good cut flower – under utilized species
‘Their Red List status of Endangered is mainly due to a naturally small, fragmented sub-population size in the wild. Overgrazing by cattle in the plants’ natural habitat and an incorrect fire regime of too frequent or too few fires may also be detrimental.’ – PlantZAfrica
Should be sown in Autumn when the difference between day and night temperatures is about 12°C .
Germination 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.
