Leucospermum bolusii
Gordons Bay pincushion seeds

Leucospermum bolusii, called Gordons Bay pincushion grows into a rounded shrub, about 1.5 m tall. The leaves are hairy when young, and have one apical tooth. The flowerheads are flat and rounded, about 20 mm in diameter, each one made up of 50 - 100 small tubular flowers. The buds are encased by pinkish red bracts, and the flowers are creamy white, with a strong, sweet fragrance that is very noticeable on windless evenings. The flowers of Leucospermum bolusii are pollinated by bees, wasps, flies, butterflies and moths. The seeds are dispersed by ants that are attracted to the fleshy skin that covers the seed, called an elaisome. The ants carry the seeds to their underground nests where they consume the elaisome, but the seed remains safe until conditions are right for them to germinate. Leucospermum bolusii is killed by fire, i.e. it is not a resprouter, but its seeds survive. Even though its distribution range is relatively small, dense stands of it occur and it is not threatened. The genus Leucospermum is named from the Greek leukos meaning white, and sperma seed, referring to the white or light-coloured seeds of many species. Seed germinates easily, they don't need to be treated with smoke primer to initiate germination. They are usually ready for planting into bags/containers after three to four months.

3 seeds 4.76 $

Leucospermum bolusii Gordons Bay pincushion



germination instructions Leucospermum bolusii - Gordons Bay pincushion: There is no pre-treatment of the seeds required. The seeds are sown in mineral-based cat litter (no clumping litter) or perlite (germ-free) in plastic-pots. Please sow the seeds on the mineral soil. Bigger seeds need to be covered with the mineral soil, small seeds should remain on the surface. Then put the plastic pot in a ziplock bag - with a pot size of 6 cm , a ziplock bag of size 12 x 17 cm is recommended . Fill in the ziplock bag as much tap water with a few drops of universal fertilizer, so that after the absorption of the substrate a few mm of water remain on the bottom. Then close the ziplock bag - Ready! More watering is not required because no moisture evaporates through the ziplock bag . Location: on the windowsill or in a small greenhouse in partial shade, daytime temperatures at about 73-83 F, somewhat lower at night at 68-72 F. The resulting micro-climate provides ideal conditions for germination.