Protea Species, Black-Beard Sugarbush

I have not grown this plant which is endemic to the Western Cape of Africa. Protea lepidocarpodendron is "Near Threatened"; that is, it ...Read Moreprobably will be threatened with extinction in the wild in the near future. The infloresence heads are 5 inches tall and 2.5 inches across and are almost hidden in the plant's foliage. The bracts are pale green, tan and cream and have heavy purplish-black fur on the bract tips. Usually, the inner involucral bracts are strongly curled inwards. Their tips almost face down into the flowerhead. It is easily confused with narrowleaf sugarbush, but Protea lepidocarpodendron has two-toned bracts and black hairs below beard.