Flower Library
Conebush
Leucadendron · Proteaceae
Leucadendron, the conebush, is the workhorse among the exotics: firm, densely leafed branches whose coloured tip leaves read like a flower and carry a small cone at the centre. Hardly any other cut material lasts as long or dries as beautifully. For structural bouquets and autumn and winter work it is a fixture with us — we buy it regularly in sturdy quality at the Veiling Rhein-Maas.
- Season
- Year-round
- Vase life
- 14–28 days
- Latin name
- Leucadendron
- Colors
- Red, Wine red, Green, Yellow-green, Silvery, Orange-red
What looks like a flower on leucadendron is a set of coloured involucral leaves around the cone-shaped flower head — there are no true petals. That is exactly why it is so indestructible: the leathery leaves do not wilt, they dry down slowly and hold their shape over weeks.
The range of varieties is wide: „Safari Sunset“ with wine-red tips is the most traded classic, „Inca Gold“ brings yellow-green, „Jade Pearl“ pale green, and varieties like „Rosette“ or „Pisa“ silvery tones. Colour intensity shifts with the seasons — many varieties colour deepest in winter.
In arrangements leucadendron is structure-giver and colour-carrier in one. It gives bouquets a framework and stability, fills like a fine foliage and brings colour at the same time. Classically it runs alongside protea, eucalyptus and thistles in Cape style, but also in modern autumnal designs with statice and grasses.
An underrated virtue: it dries perfectly. Simply hang it upside down or just let the vase water run out — colour and shape keep for months. Many of our dried autumn designs are built on leucadendron as the base.
It is hard to get anything wrong with it. The only point worth noting: Proteaceae dislike sugary vase solutions — dose regular flower food low or leave it out entirely and change the water more often instead. And as always, the lowest leaves do not belong below the waterline.
Is Conebush toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Mildly irritating
- Cats
- Mildly irritating
- Dogs
- Mildly irritating
No reliable toxicity data exists for leucadendron; the Proteaceae family is considered low-risk. As a precaution, keep out of reach of pets and small children and avoid ingestion.
Typical symptoms: After nibbling, mild gastrointestinal irritation such as drooling or vomiting is possible.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Cut the woody stems generously at an angle, ideally with a knife.
- 02Remove the lower leaves so no foliage stands in the water.
- 03Dose flower food sparingly or leave it out — Proteaceae dislike much sugar.
- 04Change the water every two to three days and the branch will last several weeks.
- 05In a cool, bright spot the colouring of the tip leaves stays rich the longest.
- 06To dry, hang upside down or simply let it dry off in the vase.
Frequently asked
- How long does leucadendron last in the vase?
- Two to four weeks are normal, often more — making the conebush one of the longest-lasting cut materials there is. And even after that it is not lost: it dries in shape and colour and keeps decorating as a dried branch for months.
- Is leucadendron a flower or a foliage?
- Both, depending on use. Botanically it is a shrub whose coloured tip leaves frame a small cone — not a true flower. In floristry we use it sometimes as a colour-giving bloom, sometimes as a structural premium foliage. This double role is what makes it so versatile.
- Is the conebush toxic to pets?
- There is no solid toxicity data on leucadendron; the Proteaceae family is generally considered low-risk. As a precaution we treat it as mildly irritating: keep it out of reach of nibbling cats and dogs, and nothing speaks against it in a pet household.
- Can you dry leucadendron?
- Yes, excellently — it is one of the best candidates for drying. Simply hang it in bundles upside down in an airy, shaded spot or let it dry down slowly in the vase. Colour and leaf shape are largely retained, especially with red varieties such as Safari Sunset.