Silver tree.

Auf einen Blick

Pflegestufe

Schwierig

Pflanzenart

Evergreen tree

Licht

Full sun

Licht im Innenraum

Direkte Sonne

Gießen

Alle 7 bis 14 Tage

Endgröße

5 to 7 meters

Wachstum

Mittel

Winterhärte

USDA 9 bis 11

Blütezeit

Late winter to early spring

Pflege

This plant needs excellent drainage and plenty of airflow to stay healthy. Keep an eye out for root rot, which often shows up as wilting or discolored foliage. It prefers a Mediterranean climate and struggles in high humidity.

Gießen

Allow the soil to dry out significantly between waterings to prevent root issues.

Düngen

Use a low-phosphorus fertilizer sparingly as this plant is sensitive to nutrients.

Schneiden

Lightly prune after flowering to maintain shape and encourage dense growth.

Umtopfen

Repot only when necessary, as this plant dislikes root disturbance.

Boden

Sandy, acidic, well-draining soil

Boden-pH

Acidic

Temperatur

-2 bis 35°C

Luftfeuchtigkeit

30 bis 50%

Trockenheitstoleranz

Hoch

Lebensdauer

Perennial, typically 20 to 50 years

Wildverbiss-Resistenz

Mittel

Sicherheit

Menschen

There is no evidence of significant human toxicity.

Kinder

The stiff, pointed leaves can be sharp, so keep this plant away from areas where children play.

Kontaktallergene

The fine hairs on the leaves can cause mechanical skin irritation if handled frequently.

Allergene in der Luft

The pollen may cause mild respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals during the flowering season.

Essbarkeit

This plant is not intended for human consumption.

So erkennst du die Pflanze

• Silvery, lance-shaped leaves
• Leaves covered in fine, silky hairs
• Stiff, woody stems
• Distinctive cone-like flower heads

Höhe

5 bis 7m

Breite

2 bis 4m

Blätter

silver, grey, evergreen

Blüten

yellow, 3 bis 5cm

Früchte

brown, Late summer

Häufige Probleme

• Root rot — Caused by poor drainage or overwatering in heavy soils.
• Phytophthora — A soil borne pathogen that thrives in wet, warm conditions.

Standort und Pflege

Vermehrung

seed, cuttings

Pflanzzeit

spring, autumn

Überwinterung

Protect from hard frosts and ensure the soil remains very dry during the winter months to prevent root rot.

Im Kübel

It is not well suited for containers due to its deep taproot and need for specific soil conditions.

Group with other fynbos plants that require minimal fertilization and excellent drainage.

Gute Pflanzpartner

• Protea repens — They share similar requirements for acidic, well drained soil.
• Erica — These plants thrive in the same nutrient poor, fynbos conditions.

Ähnliche Arten

• Leucadendron salignum — It is a smaller, more manageable relative with similar foliage habits.

Botanisches

Familie

Proteaceae

Gattung

Leucadendron

Ordnung

Proteales

Klasse

Magnoliopsida

Ursprüngliche Heimat

South Africa, specifically the Cape Peninsula.

Artenschutz

This species is classified as endangered in its native South African habitat due to urban development and invasive species.

It is a fire adapted species that relies on fire to clear competing vegetation and trigger seed release.

Nutzen für Wildtiere

nectar source

Bestäuber

Bienen, Käfer

Verwendung

ornamental specimen, cut foliage, windbreak

Taxonomie abgeglichen mit GBIF.

Häufige Fragen

Does it need a lot of water?

No, it prefers well drained, sandy soil and is quite drought tolerant once established.

Can I grow it in a pot?

It is difficult to maintain in a container long term due to its large size and specific soil needs.

Woher der Name kommt

The genus name Leucadendron comes from the Greek words for white and tree, while the species name argenteum means silvery.

Gut zu wissen

• It is commonly known as the Silver Tree.
• The leaves were historically used by early settlers to create paintings.
• It is a member of the Proteaceae family.
• It is endemic to a very small area on the slopes of Table Mountain.
• The silvery sheen is caused by dense, reflective hairs.

Auch in

• Trockenheitsverträgliche Pflanzen