Bright Eyes Leucadendron

Bright Eyes Leucadendron (Leucadendron salignum 'Bright Eyes') is a compact, bushy shrub from the Cape region of South Africa, growing about 1.5m tall and wide. Long-lasting cone flowers in red, orange and white appear in spring and summer, and the leaves carry colour all year. It is a good garden variety, not too big for suburban spaces.

Why you'll love it

• Colour in every season. Leaf colour holds year round, and the cone flowers add red, orange and white through spring and summer.
• A suburban size. At 1.5m by 1.5m it has an even, bushy shape and fits ordinary beds without taking over.
• Cut flowers and foliage. The long-lasting cones and coloured stems last well in a vase.
• Drought tolerant. Once established it needs extra water only in dry spells.
• Suits coastal gardens. It handles seaside positions, provided the soil is free-draining and the site sunny.

Where it works best

Feature shrub. Plant 1.2m apart in a mixed border with grevilleas, banksias and other waterwise plants. Its bold colour holds the eye through the seasons.

Large containers. A big pot of gritty, free-draining mix gives a sunny patio or courtyard colour all year.

Cut flower plantings. A few plants at the back of a sunny bed provide cones and foliage for the vase.

Growing Bright Eyes Leucadendron in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. Cape plants love Mediterranean climates with mild winters and dry summers, and they also suit warm and cool temperate gardens. Humid summers are harder, so airflow and drainage matter.

Soil. Free-draining soil is a must. Plant on a mound on clay, and avoid rich garden soil.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly for the first four to six weeks, until the plant is established. Use a low phosphorus native fertiliser if you feed at all, because leucadendrons are sensitive to phosphorus.

Pruning. Tip prune lightly after flowering to keep a bushy shape, always cutting back to leafy growth. Leucadendrons rarely reshoot from bare wood.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Bright Eyes Leucadendron as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives small and puts on size over the first season, and flowering follows as the shrub matures. The tube is supplied by our grower and sells out from time to time. A sold out tube simply means none are ready, and the notify button on the page will email you the day it is available again.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse our leucadendrons
• Australian native shrubs to plant alongside it
• More drought tolerant plants
• Guide to creating a waterwise garden

Common questions

Are the coloured cones really flowers?

The colour comes from bracts, modified leaves that surround the small true flowers in the middle of each cone. The bracts last for months, which is why the display holds.

Does it suit a coastal garden?

Yes. It is suitable for coastal gardens in full sun and free-draining soil, where it copes with sea air.

Why can't I use ordinary fertiliser?

Leucadendrons belong to the protea family, which is sensitive to phosphorus. Use a low phosphorus native fertiliser, or none.