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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Proteaceae (Proteas) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Summer |
| Synonyms: [L. 'Veld Fire'] |
| Parentage: (L. conocarpodendron x L. glabrum) |
| Height: 4-6 feet |
| Width: 6-8 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Leucospermum 'Veldfire' (Veldfire Pincushion) - Medium sized evergreen shrub that grows 4 to 6 feet tall by 6 to 8 feet wide with large (3 1/2" long by 2 inch wide) dark green leaves that have red on the dentations at the leaf tip. From gray cone-like structures emerge the 4 inch wide flower heads with yellow erect anthers and red "ribbons" (these form the ball of the flower) that are present from late winter through spring into early summer. Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally – in coastal gardens this plant is drought tolerant. It is reliably hardy to 26 degrees F and noted as possibly hardier (to the low 20s). As with other Leucospermum this plant is sensitive to Phosphorus and so fertilizers containing this element should not be applied to it. The name for the genus is derived from the Greek word 'leukos' meaning "white" and 'sperma' meaning "seed". This plant is considered to be a hybrid between the Ember Pincushion, Leucospermum glabrum and the Grey Tree Pincushion, L. conocarpodendron. Though this hybrid reportedly originated in South African, it was first introduced in New Zealand at the Horticultural Research Centre at Levine, near the southern tip of the North Island, through an exchange program between them and the University of Hawaii . We have been selling this plant since 1998 and it is a great showy and reliable garden plant but is not considered to be good for the cut flower trade as it has short stems and the flower heads snap off too easily from the stems.
The information on this page is based on the research that we have conducted about this plant in the San Marcos Growers library, from what we have found on reliable online sources, as well as from observations made of our crops of this plant growing in the nursery and of plants growing in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens where we may have observed it. We also have incorporated comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from those who may have additional information, particularly if this information includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Leucospermum 'Veldfire'. |
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