Leucadendron Loving Memory
Leucadendron Loving Memory is an evergreen shrub grown for its brilliant flaming red bracts. The bracts, not true flowers, are the ornamental feature here, and they hold their colour for weeks, making this leucadendron a long-season accent plant in the garden and a striking cut stem for the vase. Mature plants reach around 1.5 to 2m high with an upright, bushy habit.
This leucadendron suits a coastal garden, a low-water modern planting, or a dry sunny border. Use it as a feature shrub or plant in groups for a bold sweep of colour. It pairs well with other proteas, ornamental grasses, and restios for a textured, water-wise bed.
Grow Loving Memory in full sun with free-draining, low-phosphorus soil. Sandy or gravelly ground suits it well. It dislikes heavy, wet, or fertilised soil, which can cause rapid decline. Good airflow around the plant helps keep it healthy over the long term.
The specific toxicity of leucadendrons to pets is not clearly established. As a precaution, keep pets from chewing on the plant and seek veterinary advice if ingestion occurs. This leucadendron is not suited to frost-prone inland areas such as Central Otago or inland Southland without shelter.
Trimming: Trim after the bracts fade to keep the plant compact and encourage fresh growth. Cut back by around one third, but avoid cutting into old bare wood as leucadendrons reshoot poorly from it. Cutting bract stems for the vase also serves as light pruning.
Deadheading: Deadheading is not essential. Removing spent bract stems can tidy the plant and may encourage new growth, but leaving them on does no harm.
Fertilising: Do not use standard fertiliser. Leucadendrons are sensitive to phosphorus and rich soils. If feeding at all, use a low-phosphorus native or protea-specific fertiliser in spring, applied sparingly.
Watering: Water regularly through the first year to help the plant establish. Once settled, leucadendrons are drought-tolerant and need 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 on stressed plants and treat early with horticultural oil if needed.
Disease Management: Free-draining soil is the main defence against problems. Wet or heavy soil leads to Phytophthora root rot, which is the most common cause of decline in this family. Keep the root zone open, airy, and free of waterlogging.
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.
