Leucadendron laureolum
PROTEACEAE

• The golden sunshinebush has lost a few populations on the Cape Flats to urban development; fortunately those remaining are dense and extensive. Given its stable population trend, it is red-listed as Least Concern. This is a large shrub that can grow over 2m in height and is dioecious, meaning that it has separate female and male plants. The winter flowering season brings about small, lightly fruit-scented yellow flowers that attract beetle pollinators. After flowering, the female flowerheads continue to grow and form yellow cones that are retained on the bush for several years. Once the cone has dried out the seeds are released. In the wild these plants are killed by fire, with the cones first protecting the seeds during the fire and thereafter opening up to release them for dispersal.
• Flowering time: July
  In your garden: Drought and wind tolerant. Thrives in acidic, nutrient-poor soils and likes a sunny spot in well-drained sand. It is perfectly suited to gardens on sandy flats, but also does well in rockeries and coastal fynbos gardens. Only use well decomposed compost – NO fertiliser or manure.
  Distribution: Found in the southwestern Cape on sandstone slopes and sandy flats
  Image: © James Puttick