Leucadendron Sundance - Conebush

The Leucadendron Sundance is a beautiful South African evergreen bush that is very floriferous, but sensitive to cold and somewhat delicate to cultivate. In spring, it becomes covered with unique inflorescences that resemble stars, composed of tough apple-green bracts that gradually take on a pastel yellow hue dotted with pink-orange, surrounding a large heart made up of tiny, golden yellow flowers. They bloom on silky foliage, soft to the touch, in a tender green colour with a red tip. Increasingly used in contemporary or Mediterranean-inspired compositions, particularly by the sea, Leucadendrons are very graphic bushes that are preferably grown in large pots outside the warmest regions, as it will be imperative to store them away at the first signs of frost.

The Leucadendron Sundance is a horticultural hybrid resulting from different shrubby species of Leucadendron. All these plants belong to the proteaceae family and originate from the Cape province in South Africa. Like Proteas, Leucadendrons are strange plants in every respect, they need fire for their seeds to germinate, but unlike proteas, male and female plants are distinct. 'Sundance' forms a dense, bushy, vigorous bush, quickly reaching 1.50m (4 ft 11 in) in height and 1.20m (3 ft 11 in) in spread. Multiple stems emerge from a stump capable of regenerating after a fire. They bear evergreen leaves that are ovate to elliptical, pointed at their tips, covered in silky hairs. They are light green when budding, then darken somewhat, showing a redder tip and edges. Flowering usually occurs from March to May in our climates. The small bright yellow flowers, arranged in globular inflorescences, are surrounded by numerous conspicuous bracts, organised in stars, whose colour changes over time from tender green to pale yellow tinged with orange. 

The Leucadendron 'Sundance' is an original and elegant plant of a very mild climate and poor soil. It will preferably be established in coastal gardens spared by severe frosts, in light, mineral, rather acidic soil. Particularly adapted to the Mediterranean climate with long summers, it can cope with the slightly cooler soils of the south Atlantic coast. It will look good alone, on large slopes or in the background of exotic beds, but always in an open situation, in full sun. In an exotic garden, it can be combined with plants that enjoy the same growing conditions: the Canary Island Viperine, the Royal Protea, Euphorbia characias, Nolina siberica, the Great Ferula, the Rigid Yucca, Melianthus major, or moderately growing palm trees like the Blue Palm of Mexico (Brahea armata). In New Zealand, the flowers are highly appreciated in floristry because they last a long time in bouquets while bringing fantastic shape and colours.