Leucospermum cordifolium Copper Carnival

The Leucospermum cordifolium ‘Copper Carnaval’, commonly called Pin Cushion, is a bush of South African origin related to proteas. This compact and floriferous hybrid variety reaches a height of about 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) and 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in span. Its long spring flowering is made of original inflorescences of an incandescent coppery yellow-orange. It is a seaside bush, well adapted to sea spray as well as to sandy and dry soils in summer, where it can constitute a magnificent specimen, with an exotic habit. Continental gardeners will appreciate its small size for cultivation in a container on the terrace, to be stored in winter.

The Leucospermum cordifolium ‘Copper Carnival’ belongs to the protea family, like the Grevillea and the Protea. The Leucospermum is native to South Africa, where it is found naturally in coastal heathlands and sclerophyllous (dry) forests. It spontaneously develops on sandy, acidic, leached and draining soils, but it adapts very well to both rocky and clayey (non-limestone) or more loamy soils. Its appearance and morphology vary greatly depending on its habitat, there are even several subspecies and ecotypes.

This small shrub, with a bushy and ramified habit, of rather slow growth, generally forms a rounded crown. It will on average reach 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) in height and 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in span, depending on the cultivation conditions. Its branches are carried on one or several trunks with corky bark, which are covered with tough and glabrous leaves, of a medium green. They are densely grouped in a spiral around the stem. The flowering can take place from March to May, depending on the climate. It is not uncommon for the bush to flower more sporadically outside of these periods, depending on the regions. The pin cushion inflorescences are of a very remarkable coppery yellow-orange, so much so that one would think the plant is covered with small balls of fire! These flowers are appreciated by foraging insects. Most species of Leucospermum are pyrophytes, that is to say, they need the heat of fire to burst their fruits and release the seeds.

The Leucospermum ‘Copper Carnival’ is a quite sensational plant that does not leave anyone indifferent. Despite its lack of hardiness (up to -5°C for short periods), this bush is quite easy to cultivate in coastal gardens, in sandy and poor soil, regularly dried out in summer. Particularly adapted to the Mediterranean climate, it is content with dry to arid soils. This compact variety will be magnificent planted in a dry rock garden and of course in a pot on a terrace, but always in an open situation, in full sun. It will also be appreciated for its long vase life to compose fabulous bouquets with bright colours.

An original root system, adapted to poor and dry soils:

Plants growing in a soil poor in nutrients often form a symbiosis with soil fungi that promote the absorption of water and nutrients. But Proteaceae have chosen another strategy: they develop a large amount of special lateral roots all along their roots. These roots are called proteoid, and are induced by rain, they develop under the heap of dead leaves covering the base of the plant. Rain promotes the decomposition of leaves which results in the release of nutrients. These ephemeral roots usually dry up at the end of the growth period. They have a water and nutrient absorption activity twice as high as "normal" roots.