Plant in well-drained, amended (acidic) soil, along with full sun to ensure a bountiful bloom. It is drought tolerant and cold hardy to about 25 degrees F. Though relatively short lived in the garden, on average lasting about eight years, these plants can be a major and dramatic focal point in the garden and the flowers are great in arrangements. This variety is considered to be disease resistant and it was one of the easier Pincushions to propagate.

The native habitat of Leucospermum cordifolium is restricted to only a small region the south Western Cape of South Africa, where it grows with only winter rainfall in acidic nutrient poor soils. The name for the genus comes from the Greek word 'leukos' meaning "white" and and 'sperma' meaning "seed" in reference to the white fleshy skin, called a elaiosome, that covers the seeds. The specific epithet comes from the Latin words 'cor' (Greek 'kardia') meaning "heart" and 'folius' meaning "a leaf" in reference to the heart shape of the leaves. We grew this variety from 1999 until 2014 from plants originally received from Dennis Perry and J&R Growers and only stopped growing it after starting to grow the hybrid Leucospermum 'High Gold' that used this variety as a parent plant. 

This information about Leucospermum cordifolium 'Yellow Bird' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.