Spinning Top Conebush – 5 Seeds

Spinning Top Conebush (Leucadendron rubrum) is an erect shrub growing to 2.5 m tall. Plants develop from a single-stemmed base, with male plants being bushier and having smaller leaves than female plants.

Leaves are covered with silver-white hairs when soft and young. On maturing they lose most of the hairs and are a green-grey color. The female leaves are twisted near the base, which, together with the shape of the female cone imitates the motion and shape of a spinning top.

Male and female flower heads are clustered along the ends of branches. Male flower heads are very small, measuring about 11 mm long but are a vibrant bright yellow, and flower in a golden plume. Female flower heads form a cone about 40 mm long. The yellow female stigmas pop out at the top of the cone in a tuft. The bracts forming the cone are a colorful mix of yellow, green, blue and red.

Common names: spinning top conebush (Eng.); tolletjiesbos, waretolbos (Afr.)

Growing Spinning Top Conebush

Indoor Sowing: Late Summer and Autumn.

Direct Sowing: Late Summer and Autumn.

• Sow seed in late summer to autumn.
• Seed can be sown in a seed tray placed in a sunny position. Seed can also be sown directly where you want the plants to grow.
• Sow on a well-drained medium, firm down and cover with a layer of sand or finely milled bark.
• Germination begins after two to three weeks.
• Once two true leaves have grown, prick the seedlings out into small bags.
• Place the seedlings in a lightly shaded area with good air circulation.
• When plants are ± 50-100 mm tall, or after one year’s growth, they can be planted into the garden.
• The plant requires a hot, sunny position with well-drained acidic soil.
• Plants grow relatively quickly and will flower after three years if grown from seed.