Leucadendron Strawberries and Cream

Leucadendron 'Strawberries and Cream' (Leucadendron salignum 'Strawberries and Cream') does its best work in winter, when the tip of every stem opens into cream bracts flushed pink and red. It is a rounded shrub of about 1.2m tall and wide, drought tolerant and salt tolerant, and the colour holds for months rather than weeks.

Why you'll love it

• Colour through winter. Cream bracts flushed pink and red sit at the end of every stem when most gardens have gone quiet.
• Built for the coast. Coastal and salt tolerant, so a seaside front garden does not scorch it.
• Low maintenance and drought tolerant. Once established it asks for very little water and no fussing.
• A tidy 1.2m ball. It holds a rounded shape on its own, so it suits a border or a pot without constant clipping.
• Birds work the flowers. The true flowers sit in the centre of the bracts and draw nectar feeders in.

Where it works best

Mass planting and borders. Plant 1m apart for a continuous run of winter colour. At that spacing the shrubs touch without choking the airflow they need.

Coastal gardens. Salt tolerant and content in poor sandy soil, which is what most seaside beds already offer.

Pots and feature planting. One plant in a 400mm or larger pot of sharp draining mix makes an easy courtyard feature.

Growing Leucadendron 'Strawberries and Cream' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun with open air around it. Mediterranean, warm temperate, cool temperate and subtropical gardens all suit it. It takes light frost only, so in hard frosting inland districts grow it in a pot you can shift under shelter.

Soil. Sharp drainage is not negotiable. Sandy or gravelly ground is ideal, and on clay you need a raised mound with coarse grit through it. Wet feet over summer is the usual cause of sudden death.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in long dry spells. Feed lightly with a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring. Standard garden fertiliser will kill it.

Pruning. Cut the spent bracts off in late spring, taking each stem back by about a third into leafy growth. Do not cut into bare old wood, because it will not reshoot from there.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes: tubes, 140mm in packs of ten and 200mm in packs of six. Tubes are young single stemmed plants and the value choice for a mass planting, taking roughly two years to fill out. The 140mm and 200mm plants are already branched and usually colour in their first winter with you.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect little visible growth for the first six weeks while the roots move out, then a strong flush in spring. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse coastal and salt tolerant plants for the same conditions.
• Compare options in drought tolerant plants.
• Planning a coastal feature garden covers soil and exposure.
• See the wider shrub range for companions.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

One metre apart for a mass planting or a low informal border. Any closer and airflow drops, which raises the risk of stem and root problems in humid weather.

Why do leucadendrons die suddenly?

Almost always drainage or phosphorus. They come from lean, sharply drained ground, so a rich bed, heavy mulch against the stem or a standard fertiliser will finish one off quickly.

Are the cream and pink parts the flowers?

They are bracts, modified leaves that surround the small true flower in the centre. That is why the display lasts for months instead of a fortnight.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, in a 400mm or wider pot with free draining mix opened up with coarse sand or grit. Keep it in full sun and let the mix dry between waterings.