Summary: Leucospermum formosum is a shrub in the Proteaceae family.

Botanical name: Leucospermum formosum (Andrews) Doux Family: Proteaceae Origin: South Africa Common name: silver-leaf pincushion, Pincushion IUCN Red List: VU (Vulnerable as only 3 of 6 populations remain.) Hardiness: -6°C (We have no experience of this.) Leucospermum formosum is a tall shrub, 2 to 3 meters high, with a single trunk at the base and silvery-white leaves. Young flowering plants have single-toothed leaves, while old ones have three. Inflorescences range from yellow to orange. It grows on cool mountain slopes at altitudes of 200 to 1,000 meters. Rainfall ranges from 635 mm to 1015 mm throughout the year, and the soil is damp peaty. The seeds’ elaiosomes are eaten by South African ants and germinate after fires and storms. This is an endangered species, with only three populations left out of six spread over 57 km2. The causes of its disappearance are urban sprawl, the introduction of exotic plants, afforestation and flower harvesting. The species thrives in full sun.