# The Pincushion (*leucospermum cordifolium*)

The Pincushion is a bright and colorful plant known for its unique, spiky flower heads that look like pincushions! It attracts many birds and insects with its sweet nectar.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Habitat:** Fynbos regions of South Africa, often found in sandy or rocky soils.
- **Also known as:** Fireball Flower

![The Pincushion](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Leucospermum_cordifolium.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Cs california, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leucospermum_cordifolium.JPG)

## Appearance

The Pincushion is a striking evergreen shrub with stiff, leathery leaves and globe-shaped flower heads. Its vibrant flowers burst forth like colorful pincushions, typically in shades of orange, red, or yellow, each composed of numerous stiff styles resembling pins.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Proteales
- **Family:** Proteaceae
- **Genus:** Leucospermum

## Interesting facts

- It thrives in the Cape Floristic Region, a biodiversity hotspot in South Africa.
- Its scientific name, Leucospermum, means 'white seed' in ancient Greek!
- Pincushions are global cut flower celebrities, grown for bouquets everywhere.
- The 'pins' of the flower are actually individual flower parts called styles.

## Special abilities

- **Fire Survivor:** The Pincushion can regrow quickly from its woody rootstock after bushfires, helping it thrive in fire-prone landscapes.
- **Nectar Beacon:** Its brightly colored, nectar-rich flowers attract sunbirds, ensuring efficient pollination as birds transfer pollen between plants.
- **Ant Alliance:** The Pincushion's seeds have a special fatty coat called an elaiosome, encouraging ants to carry and bury them.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-150 cm
- **Spread:** 100-200 cm
- **Flower Size:** 8-12 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring-Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Bird

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Orange-breasted Sunbird (*Anthobaphes violacea*) — drinks nectar from its vibrant flowers
- **Symbiotic with:** Common Pugnacious Ant (*Anoplolepis custodiens*) — disperses its seeds in exchange for a fatty reward
- **Eats:** Cape Grysbok (*Raphicerus melanotis*) — browses on young leaves and shoots in fynbos

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
- [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify The Pincushion?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is The Pincushion?

50-150 cm

### How wide does The Pincushion spread?

100-200 cm

### How big are the flowers on The Pincushion?

8-12 cm

### When does The Pincushion bloom?

Spring-Summer

### Is The Pincushion edible?

No

### Is The Pincushion toxic?

None

### What is The Pincushion's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Fairview Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fairview-park) — California, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [The Pincushion: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/the-pincushion)