soil evaluation, clearing, drainage, chemical correction, and the physical preparation should be critically considered five months prior to planting Leucadendrons. The selection criteria for cultivating Leucadendron species is of great importance and should be based on the agricultural ability of the plant as well as the current market standards. Selected species Leucadendron album Leucadendron arcuatum Leucadendron argenteum Leucadendron barkerae Leucadendron bonum Leucadendron brunioides Leucadendron burchellii Leucadendron cadens Leucadendron chamelaea Leucadendron cinereum Leucadendron comosum Leucadendron concavum Leucadendron conicum Leucadendron coniferum Leucadendron cordatum Leucadendron coriaceum Leucadendron corymbosum Leucadendron cryptocephalum Leucadendron daphnoides Leucadendron diemontianum Leucadendron discolor Leucadendron dregei Leucadendron dubium Leucadendron elimense Leucadendron ericifolium Leucadendron eucalyptifolium Leucadendron flexuosum Leucadendron floridum Leucadendron foedum Leucadendron galpinii Leucadendron gandogeri Leucadendron glaberrimum Leucadendron globosum Leucadendron grandiflorum Leucadendron gydoense Leucadendron immoderatum Leucadendron lanigerum Leucadendron laureolum Leucadendron laxum Leucadendron levisanus Leucadendron linifolium Leucadendron loeriense Leucadendron loranthifolium Leucadendron macowanii Leucadendron meridianum Leucadendron meyerianum Leucadendron microcephalum Leucadendron modestum Leucadendron muirii Leucadendron nervosum Leucadendron nitidum Leucadendron nobile Leucadendron olens Leucadendron orientale Leucadendron osbornei Leucadendron platyspermum Leucadendron pondoense Leucadendron procerum Leucadendron pubescens Leucadendron pubibracteolatum Leucadendron radiatum Leucadendron remotum Leucadendron roodii Leucadendron rourkei Leucadendron rubrum Leucadendron salicifolium Leucadendron salignum Leucadendron sericeum Leucadendron sessile Leucadendron sheilae Leucadendron singulare Leucadendron sorocephalodes Leucadendron spirale Leucadendron spissifolium Leucadendron stellare Leucadendron stelligerum Leucadendron strobilinum Leucadendron teretifolium Leucadendron thymifolium Leucadendron tinctum Leucadendron tradouwense Leucadendron uliginosum Leucadendron verticillatum Leucadendron xanthoconus Hybridization The drive behind the production of new Leucadendron cultivars is the production of a constant supply of new and improved quality products that are available initially from South Africa only. The genus Leucadendron is popular amongst consumers due to its colourful bracts and long vase life. Leucadendron hybrids are produced through interspecific hybridization. Crosses made within the same subsection are generally more viable in the hybridization of Leucadendrons with the quantity of seed set relative to the taxonomic relatedness of the species. Intersectional hybridization produces hybrids that show a unique set of characteristics which are favoured by consumers. One example of a hybrid produced by two Leucadendron genera is the cultivar ‘Rosette’, a hybrid between L. laureolum and L. elimense. This interspecific hybrid is however completely sterile due to autopolyploidy and thus have no use in further cultivation. The main aim of interspecific hybridization is to produce large quantities of progeny seed from the best interspecific hybrid parents. In the UK the cultivars ‘Safari Sunset’ and ‘Inca Gold’ have gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. References External