Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority

Common name: Cauliflower Hakea

Family: PROTEACEAE

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Origin of Scientific Name

Hakea: named after the 18th Century German patron of botany, Baron Christian Ludwig von Hake.

corymbosa: (Latin) from corymbus – a cluster of flowers; referring to the arrangement of flowers finishing in flat-topped clusters – a corymb.

Description

If you are looking for a plant that looks as though it has jumped straight from the pages of a Dr Seuss book then look no further than the Cauliflower Hakea!

A Hakea? A Hakea? Cauliflower Hakea you say?
That can be spotted from Quairading, south to Israelite Bay?

Two by two metres this shrub can grow,
In well-drained soils if you must know.

With foliage like pillows please don’t be a fool!
If you lay your head on it, its spiky leaves will be cruel!

Yes it may be prickly but please don’t despair,
Growing this in your garden would be more than fair.

Its flowers are yellow, they’re yellow and green,
A green coloured flower? What a thing to be seen!

From July to September, oh the flowers you’ll see
An attractive display I think you’ll agree.

Would you? Could you eat this cauli?
No! No! No! That would be folly!

But the birds, they will come from miles around,
To taste the sweet nectar that can be found.

So sow it and grow it, no need to prune.
When should you grow it? It’s never too soon!

Poem by Carolyn Ellis.

Horticultural tips

Propagated easily from seed in approximately 5 to 6 weeks with no pre-treatment required.
Best planted in well-drained sandy or gravely soil and a sunny position.
Tolerant of extended dry periods and light frost.
Requires little to no pruning and very little care once established.

For more horticultural tips view our Plant Notes section.