Family: Proteaceae
Common Name: Needle Bush, Pincushion, Sea Urchin

There are around 140 species of evergreen trees and shrubs in this Australian genus. The leaves vary enormously, but are generally simple, alternate, or needle-like, lance-shaped or kidney-shaped. They can be entire or lobed, but are always stiff and leathery. The small, tubular flowers resemble Grevillea and are generally clustered in the leaf axils, sometimes forming a globular head. The mostly large, hard seed cases are in two sections, with beaks at the end. Hakeas are attractive to birds and relatively disease-free. Grown widely in Australasia, they are also popular in California and the Mediterranean. Some of the prickly species make good hedges, and tolerate prun­ing and trimming; fast-growing species like H. salicifolia are used for shelter and shade.

Species

Some of the following species are available in the UK.

H. francisiana (Synonym: H. mutilineata), grass leaf hakea, from South Australia, is a tall, handsome shrub with long, narrow, downy, grayish green leaves and pink to deep red flowers, borne in cylindrical spikes. It may be difficult to grow in humid, coastal regions or in heavy soils.

H. laurina, pincushion hakea, a native of Western Australia, is a fast-growing, small tree, to 6 m (20 ft), with narrow, lance-shaped, gray-green leaves. From late autumn to midwinter, the tree bears ball-shaped, sweetly-scented, crimson flower heads, and long, cream styles, like a pincushion.

H. salicifolia (Synonym: H. saligna), willow hakea, from New South Wales and Queensland, is a well-shaped, small tree growing quickly to 7 m (23 ft). It has long, narrow, tapering leaves, bronze-red when young, green when mature, and cream, fragrant flowers on long stems.

H. sericea, (Synonym: H. lissosperma) from eastern Australia, is a large, bushy shrub, growing to 3-5 m (10-16 ft) tall, with sharply pointed, needle-like leaves and clusters of lightly perfumed, white or pale pink flowers in spring.

H. suaveolens from Western Australia is a vigor­ous, rounded shrub, growing to 3 m (10 ft) and useful as a windbreak in coastal areas. It has prickly, needle-like leaves and produces terminal clusters of fragrant, white flowers.

H. victoriae, royal hakea, an upright shrub from Western Australia, has marvellous, very ornate foliage, but it is hard to cultivate except in areas of low humidity. The kidney-shaped or roundish, gray-green leaves are heavily veined with gold and edged with fine teeth. The green turns to gold and red at the base of the leaves. Many of the attractive, flowering species are from Western Australia.

Cultivation

Propagation is generally from the winged seeds, and colour forms usually come true from seed. Best seed comes from mature, woody, year-old capsules. Store them in a paper bag in a warm spot. Within two weeks they will release the seed which should be sown in a well-drained potting mix, and germinated in a temperature of 18°C (64°F). Germination can take up to ten weeks. Seedlings should be potted on quickly, then planted out when they reach 20 cm (8 in). Hakeas can also be propa­gated from cuttings of half-ripe shoots taken in autumn and struck in a sharp sand and peat mix of about 3:1, treated with fungicide as they are susceptible to damping-off. They prefer an open, sunny, well-drained spot as they do not like 'wet feet'. They are surface-rooting plants and most respond to light pruning after flower­ing. Most species respond well to a slow-release fertilizer. They take slight frost but in frost-prone climates, grow in an airy, cool green-house or conservatory, in pots of soil-based pot­ting compost. Ensure maximum light and acid soil.

Climate

Warmer parts of zone 9, or zone 10.