Leucadendron laureolum flowers in winter.  The flowers, both male and female ones, are completely covered by the involucral leaves that surround them.  All the pincushions produce male and female flowers on separate bushes.  These bushes grow strongly in their natural habitat to a good size of around 2 m in height and they spread to about the same width.

This specimen was photographed in August in the De Hoop Reserve south of Swellendam, among a rich variety of other fynbos species.  The Reserve's plant list comprises about 1500 species for visitors to explore on foot, mountain bike or car.  The Leucadendron species count on this list is currently 16.  They add to an exciting experience of veld diversity with many other fynbos species such as Erica, Protea and Leucospermum.