This is an excellent plant for seaside gardens along the winter-rainfall western and southern Cape coasts, since it is resistant to wind and salt spray, is well-suited to poor sandy soils, and provides wonderful spring and early summer colour. It can be planted at the back of borders where it can be allowed to grow to its full size, although this rarely happens in a cultivated garden. Planted about 1.5-2 m apart it would make a useful hedge. It looks best when interplanted with other fynbos species with the same water requirements. Plant at least one of these pincushions if you want to attract Cape Sugarbirds to your garden.

Full sun and good drainage are essential and the plant should not be grown in areas which receive frost.

Seeds can be collected 1-2 months after flowering (remember you are competing with the ants which also collect the seeds!) and the elaisome is soaked in hot water and then rubbed off. Cleaned dry seeds are stored in a cool dry place until needed for sowing in March or April. Before sowing, soak the seeds in Kirstenbosch Smoke-Plus seed primer for 24 hours. If this smoke primer is unavailable soak the seeds in a 1% hydrogen peroxide solution. A well-draining, but moisture-retaining mixture of 10 parts river sand, 6 parts loam soil and 7 parts of finely milled bark is tamped down into a deep sowing tray. Some of the above mixture is put through a fine sieve and used as a thin top layer to lightly cover the seeds which have been scattered on the base layer.

Place the trays in a greenhouse and water sufficiently to keep the soil medium moist but under no circumstances allow them to become waterlogged or to dry out. Seeds take about 4 weeks to germinate and should be pricked out into 500 ml bags containing the same mix as above when they are about 15 mm tall and have developed their first pair of true leaves. Allow to harden off under light shade cloth for 3-4 weeks, then place them in full sun.

Feed on a monthly basis with a fish emulsion fertilizer at recommended strength. Other nitrogenous fertilizers may be used but avoid any of those containing phosphates. In about 6 months the plants should be about 200 mm high and should be ready to plant into their permanent positions.

These should be sunny and well-drained. Do not use manure or commercial fertilizers in the planting holes, which should be square and about 25 cm deep. Well-matured compost mixed 50/50 with the soil will give the plants a good start. For the first two years after planting out, the young plants should receive water regularly especially in summer or during dry periods. Mulching is useful for retaining water and suppressing weed growth.

Take disease-free cuttings between November and April from vertically growing shoots which are firm. Cut off, not strip, the leaves from the lower third of the cuttings. Dip the base into a rooting solution or powder and root in a deep tray or preferably in a perforated plastic sleeve or multi-tray filled with the same mixture as for seed sowing. Place under mist on a bottom heated bench (22-25°C). Rooting should take place in about 8-12 weeks and the plants are then potted into bags as for the seedlings above. Treat with fungicide on a regular basis.

Cuttings and seedlings are susceptible to aphids when young and should be sprayed with an appropriate insecticide. Rust and leaf miners are also occasionally problematic and should be sprayed as necessary. Mature plants may succumb to the root fungus Phytophtora cinnamomi. The best method of preventing this is to make sure the plants are not water-stressed, and good drainage and free air movement round the plants are essential.