Image: Derek Keats

(Seed Grown)
Leucospermum tottum — the ribbon pincushion — is one of those plants that looks soft and floaty until you realize it’s built for some tough love.
 
Clouds of pale pink to salmon-orange “pins” sit out at the ends of the branches, almost hovering rather than flowering. The whole thing reads light and airy, but don’t be fooled—this is straight-up fynbos toughness, evolved for lean, acidic soils, hot dry summers, and the occasional fire reset - but try to avoid the latter unless you want the Calandar Boys in their shiny red truck to pay a visit..
 
Give it some space, drainage, and let it do the show-off thing. It’ll throw a haze of bloom a bit later than the usual pincushions, pulling birds and insects in like it’s running a side hustle as a nectar bar.
 
Flower Color: Pale Pink/Salmon
Bloomtime: Spring
Height: 4-5 feet
Width: 6-8 feet
Exposure: Sun
Soil Type: Good Drainage
Cold Tolerance: 26-28f
Irrigation requirements: Low Once Established