Leucadendron salignum Devils Blush - Conebush

Leucadendron Devil's Blush is a small evergreen bush of South African origin, closely related to Proteas, with an intensely exotic appearance but sensitive to cold and somewhat delicate to grow. It is a very attractive garden plant when the soil and climate lend themselves to its cultivation, but also a leading greenhouse plant. This Devil's Blush variety is characterised by a compact habit and beautiful glowing colours. Its long flowering period, taking the form of ruffs of bracts in scarlet to purple tones, dominates a leathery foliage that is not lacking in elegance. Increasingly used in contemporary or Mediterranean-inspired compositions - in beds or on its own, especially by the sea - Leucadendron require a poor, perfectly drained soil to flourish, and a very sunny exposure. Growing in large pots is preferable outside the mildest areas, as it is imperative to keep the plant protected as soon as the first frosts arrive.

Leucadendron Devil's Blush is a plant from the Protea family derived from Leucadendron salignum, a species found in the Cape province of South Africa. Like Proteas, Leucadendron are strange plants in every respect, needing fire to germinate their seeds. But unlike Proteas, the male and female plants are distinct. 'Devil's Blush' forms a small dense, bushy shrub with a compact habit. This variety quickly reaches 1 m (3 ft) in all directions. Multiple stems emerge from a stump capable of regenerating after the passage of fire. They carry narrow and long, elliptical, green but dark red tinted evergreen leaves, covered with a waxy bloom in winter and sometimes also in summer. Flowering usually occurs from February to April in European climates. The small flowers arranged in more or less conical inflorescences are surrounded by very conspicuous long bracts, organized in stars, whose colour varies over time from scarlet to red and purple, giving the whole a flamboyant appearance.  

Leucadendron Devil's Blush is a sensational plant of very mild climates, which leaves no-one indifferent. Ideally installed in a coastal garden spared by heavy frosts, in light, poor, mineral, rather acidic soil. It will look good as a standalone specimen, on large slopes or at the back of exotic beds, but always in an open situation, in full sun. In an exotic garden it can be combined with plants that appreciate the same growing conditions: Canary Island Viperine, Royal Protea, Grevillea, Coastal Banksia, or Chilean Fire Tree for example. In South Africa the flowers are very popular in floristry because they last a long time in bouquets while bringing fantastic colour.