Leucadendron Strobolinum 'Safari Goldstrike'

‘Safari Goldstrike’ Conebush

Botanical Name: Leucadendron strobolinum 'Safari Goldstrike'
Family: Proteaceae
Origin: South Africa
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

Overview

A premium yellow conebush bred for long, straight cut stems and bold winter colour. ‘Safari Goldstrike’ carries clean, golden bracts around the cones on an upright, multi-stemmed plant—perfect for feature planting, screening, and floristry in South Australian, Mediterranean-style gardens.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 1.8-2 m H x 1.5-2 m W 
• Growth Rate: 30-60 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Narrow, leathery olive-green leaves; upper foliage often yellow-tinted in cool months
• Flowers: Bright yellow bracts around the cones on long stems; peak display late winter–early spring, with colour often building from late summer/autumn in SA
  
• Seasonal Interest: Evergreen structure year-round; golden bracts and red-tinged stems are strongest through the cool months, easing to warm tones as weather warms
• Wildlife Value: Dense habit provides shelter; seasonal flowers offer incidental pollinator interest
• Tolerance: Coastal & wind-tolerant; heat & drought-tolerant once established; light–moderate frost. Low-phosphorus feeder—avoid P-rich fertilisers
• Planting Density: Hedges/screens 0.8–1.2 m apart (~1 per metre for a dense line)
• Pet Friendly: Generally non-toxic; discourage chewing/ingestion

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade, full sun for strongest colour and compact habit
• Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or clay loam; avoid waterlogging
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8-12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10-14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry.
• Maintenance: Cut stems/lightly prune after flowering to keep shape and encourage new shoots; don’t cut into bare old wood; use low-P native fertiliser only
• Lifespan: 15-25 years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean SA gardens, including coastal areas
• Soil pH: Acidic–neutral preferred

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Bold winter colour hedge or screen with long, cuttable stems
• Feature shrub in gravel/Mediterranean schemes; pairs with olives, rosemary and grasses
• Cut-flower patch for reliable stems in the cooler months

Why You Will Love It

‘Safari Goldstrike’ floods the garden (and vases) with clean, golden bracts through the cool season, while shrugging off wind, salt and summer heat—low-fuss, high-impact colour for SA gardeners.