Leucadendron Julie
Leucadendron Julie is an evergreen shrub grown for its colourful bracts, which are cream flushed with pink edges. The bracts surround a central cone and hold their colour over a long season, making this leucadendron a reliable garden feature from late autumn through winter. Plants grow to around 1 to 1.5m high and wide, forming a neat, bushy shape.
This leucadendron suits a coastal garden, a dry sunny border, or a modern low-water planting. It works well as a feature shrub or planted in groups for a bold, repeated effect. Pair it with proteas, ornamental grasses, and other leucadendrons for a textured, water-wise bed that holds colour through the cooler months.
Grow Leucadendron Julie in full sun with free-draining, low-phosphorus soil. Sandy or gravelly ground suits it well. It dislikes heavy, wet, or fertilised soil. Good airflow and an open position help the plant thrive. Avoid shaded or poorly drained sites.
Leucodendron Julie is not suited to frost-prone inland areas such as Central Otago or inland Southland without shelter. Leucadendrons are not listed as toxic to cats, dogs, or horses, but as with any plant, discourage pets from chewing on it.
Trimming: Prune after the bracts fade, cutting stems back by up to one third to keep the plant compact and bushy. You can cut bract stems for the vase, which doubles as light pruning. Avoid cutting into old bare wood, as leucadendrons are slow to reshoot from it.
Deadheading: Deadheading is not essential. Removing spent bract stems can tidy the plant and encourage new growth, but leaving them does no harm.
Fertilising: Do not use standard fertiliser. Leucadendrons are sensitive to phosphorus. If feeding at all, use a low-phosphorus native or protea-specific feed in spring, applied sparingly.
Watering: Water regularly through the first year to help the plant establish. Once settled, Leucadendron Julie is drought-tolerant and needs watering only during long dry spells. Avoid keeping the root zone constantly wet.
Pest Control: Leucadendrons are generally trouble-free. Check occasionally for scale and mealybugs, especially on stressed plants, and treat early with horticultural oil if found.
Disease Management: Free-draining soil is the main defence against problems. Wet or heavy soil invites Phytophthora root rot, which is the most common cause of decline in this genus. Keep the root zone open, airy, and free of competing organic mulch piled against the stem.
Enjoy complimentary delivery anywhere in mainland New Zealand when you purchase plants worth $250 or more*.
For orders below $250, the following flat-rate delivery charges are applicable:
- Urban delivery within mainland New Zealand: $19.95
- Rural delivery within mainland New Zealand: $39.95
- Waiheke, Chatham and Great Barrier Islands: Please contact us for shipping options.
We aim to have all orders shipped within 14 days from the order date, unless a different shipping date is specified alongside a product.
