Plants of the Week

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E.g., 01/12/2024

Leucadendron discolor

Flower head of male plant
Common names: Piketberg conebush, gold flame tips, red conebush (Eng.); rooi-tolbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

For most of the year Leucadendron discolor is a grey-green filler, best planted towards the back of the shrubbery. During spring it comes alive with colour...

24 / 09 / 2012 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucadendron album

Leucadendron album female cone
Common names: linear-leaf conebush (Eng.); aarbeisilwertolbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

An unusual conebush, with its velvety silver foliage, Leucadendron album is a striking mountain fynbos shrub....

17 / 11 / 2008 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucadendron floridum

Bush with female flowers
Common names: Flats conebush, silky euryspermum, sunny; tolbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

As its name implies, the Flats conebush is suited to wetland areas or damp positions in the garden. Plant this shrub in groups to add seasonal colour and...

23 / 09 / 2013 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucadendron thymifolium

Female flower
Common names: Malmesbury conebush, thymeleaf protea; katsterttolbos, swartveldknoppiesbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Leucadendron thymifolium is a Critically Endangered plant and experts predict this species could be extinct by 2025....

24 / 02 / 2014 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucadendron elimense subsp. elimense

female plant in flower
Common names: Elim conebush
Family: Proteaceae

Leucadendron elimense subsp. elimense is an attractive species not be overlooked when driving along the gravel roads between Elim and Bredasdorp....

16 / 06 / 2008 | Berenice Carolus | Harold Porter NBG
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Leucadendron laureolum

Leucadendron laureolum growing in habitat at Silvermine
Common names: golden conebush, golden sunshine-conebush, laurel-leaf conebush (Eng.); louriergeelbos, louriertolbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

In midwinter, golden conebushes turn many Cape mountainsides bright yellow. These large fynbos shrubs thrive in a wide range of soils, and bring winter...

07 / 05 / 2012 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucadendron levisanus

Leucadendron levisanus male in flower
Common names: Cape Flats conebush, spatula-leaf protea (Eng.); sandknoppiesbos (Afr.) Status: Endangered
Family: Proteaceae

This endangered member of the protea family was once common on the Cape Flats, but has been reduced by urban development to a few populations along road...

25 / 08 / 2003 | Trevor Adams | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucadendron macowanii

Leucadendron macowanii, male flowerheads.
Common names: acacia-leaf conebush, wattle-leaf conebush
Family: Proteaceae

This is a fast-growing shrub with narrow, dark green leaves, bright yellow flower heads in profusion on the male plants in winter, and dark red cones on...

16 / 09 / 2002 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucadendron rubrum

Leucadendron rubrum
Common names: spinning top conebush (Eng.); tolletjiesbos, waretolbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Leucadendron rubrum is not a flowering show stopper. It is an interesting shrub producing wonderful, brightly coloured cones looking like spinning...

11 / 10 / 2010 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucadendron sessile

Female Leucadendron sessile bush
Common names: sun conebush, western sunbush (Eng.)
Family: Proteaceae

Leucadendron sessile is an easy-to-grow fynbos shrub that turns bright yellow during winter and spring. Leucadendrons are often overlooked, in favour...

11 / 08 / 2008 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucadendron strobilinum

Red leaf tips
Common names: Peninsula conebush
Family: Proteaceae

Leucadendron strobilinum is an eye-catching shrub that is ideal for display in a fynbos garden....

02 / 01 / 2012 | Olivia Tyambetyu | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucadendron xanthoconus

Cones
Common names: sickle-leaf conebush ( Eng. ); blinkblaartolbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

A versatile fynbos shrub, with a silvery shine to its foliage, Leucadendron xanthoconus deserves a second glance....

16 / 07 / 2007 | Monique Twine | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucadendron linifolium

Leucadendron linifolium
Common names: line-leaf conebush (Eng.), duineknoppiesbos, knoppiesbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Leucadendron linifolium is a neat, evergreen shrub, water-wise in the winter-rainfall region and ideal for gardens on the sandy flats. It is used...

25 / 10 / 2010 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucadendron loeriense

Leucadendron loeriense female cones in flower
Common names: loerie conebush (Eng.); loerietolbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Leucadendron loeriense is one of the few members of the protea family that flower in mid-summer, producing its lovely star-shaped flowerheads and...

29 / 12 / 2008 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucadendron spissifolium subsp. oribinum

Male flowers: Copyright Tony Abbott
Common names: Oribi spear-leaved conebush ( Eng. ); Oribigeelbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

This rare Leucadendron (conebush) is found at the Oribi Gorge near Port Shepstone, far from the Western Cape where most Leucadendron species...

05 / 06 / 2006 | Wendy Foden | TSP
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Leucadendron tinctum

Leucadendron tinctum display
Common names: spicy conebush ( Eng. ); toffie-appel (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

An attractive, scented, bushy shrub of the Proteaceae family, Leucadendron tinctum makes a delightful display in a fynbos garden....

17 / 07 / 2006 | Monique Twine | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucospermum conocarpodendron subsp. viridum

Leucospermum conocarpodendron subsp. viridum flower head
Common names: green tree pincushion, hairless tree pincushion, yellow pincushion (Eng.); groenkreupelhout, kreupelboom, goudboom, brandhoutboom (Afr.) (Previously k
Family: Proteaceae

The largest of the pincushion group of proteas, the green tree pincushion is absolutely spectacular when in flower. The large rounded bushes are then covered...

30 / 11 / 2009 | Jane Forrester | Harold Porter NBG
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Leucospermum formosum

Leucospermum formosum flowerheads maturing
Common names: silver-leaf wheel-pincushion
Family: Proteaceae

Leucospermum formosum has spectacular bright yellow spring flowers that look like a Catherine wheel firework frozen in mid spin. ...

07 / 12 / 2009 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucospermum grandiflorum

Leucospermum grandiflorum opening flower head
Common names: grey-leaf fountain pincushion, rainbow pincushion (Eng.)
Family: Proteaceae

The rainbow pincushion makes for a fascinating floral display with flower buds opening bright yellow and slowly changing to flaming red....

20 / 09 / 2010 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucospermum muirii

Flowers heads change colour
Common names: Albertinia pincushion ( Eng. ); bloukoolhout (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

A neat, attractive and lime-loving specimen of the Proteaceae family, this bushy shrub will be a delightful display in a fynbos garden....

06 / 11 / 2006 | Monique Twine | Kirstenbosch NBG
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