Plant Of The Week PINCUSHION PLANT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29673, 17 November 1961, Page 8

Plant Of The Week PINCUSHION PLANT

Most gardeners on the flat in Canterbury are shy of tender plants. But some of these plants are not as tender as they appear to be—in the right place and position—arid the pin-cushion plant appears to be one of them. For in full flower at the moment at Lincoln College is a large plant of Leucospermum reflexum—to give it its correct name—which has survived the last three winters, and is now flowering for the first time. The foliage is a soft grey in colour, and contrasts excellently with the large orange - red flower - heads, which give quite a close resemblance to a pin-cushion at a quick glance. As the individual flowers age they reflex downwards on the mainsteam of the head, giving rise to the scientific name of reflexum. When this stage occurs, the red styles protrude like streamers. Our plant is now about five feet in height—it is a quick grower in the right place—and although it has been cut with frost on the tips it has never looked like succumbing during its life, although it has never been given protection. To give a word of warning, however, our plant is placed on a wall facing ’due north, so that it obtains full sun and some degree of reflected heat in winter. The soil is relatively light—certainly not heavy—and this is a necessity, too. If you order a plant, make sure you place it in the Fight «pot to start off. They do not tolerate root disturbance once established.