Flora Detail

Common Name Tree Pincushion
Family Proteaceae (Protea Family)
Date Observed 27-04-2025
Category Bushes
Catalogue No. 4449RGu
Flowering Time Spring
Colour Yellow
Locations Observed
Estuary
Koppie
Nature Reserve
Small Holding
Village Few
Greater Rooiels

Leucospermum conocarpodendron

Information

Tree Pincushion

Leucadendron xanthoconus (Sickle-leaf Conebush or Blinkblaartolbos) is a fast-growing, evergreen, single-stemmed Proteaceae shrub endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa, reaching 1–2 m in height. Known for its bright yellow, winter-to-spring-flowering bracts and narrow, silvery-hairy leaves, this dioecious, fire-dependent species thrives in sunny, acidic, well-drained sandy fynbos soils. 
Key Characteristics & Details:
Appearance: A dense shrub with silvery, sickle-shaped leaves that become hairless, arranged on reddish branches.
Flowers: Yellow, conelike, and showy from August to September (spring). Male and female flowers grow on separate plants.
Cones & Seeds: Female plants produce yellow bracts around cones, which retain seeds for several years; the plant dies after fire, releasing seeds.
Habitat & Cultivation: Occurs on lower mountain slopes and flats in the Western Cape. Prefers full sun and is drought-tolerant once established.
Conservation Status: Not threatened, as it is widely distributed and abundant in the wild. 
Growth Rate: Fast-growing under ideal conditions.
Lifespan: Generally 10–20 years. 
(AI Overview)

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