Leucospermum commonly known as Pincushions is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae, indigenous to South Africa and Zimbabwe, where they occupy a variety of habitats, including fynbos, scrub, forest, and mountain slopes. The majority of them occur in the winter rainfall regions of the Western Cape Province. They are evergreen shrubs or rarely small trees growing from 50cm to 5m tall and are also well suited to being used in rockeries and pots. The leaves are spirally arranged, tough and leathery, with a serrated margin. The beautiful flowers are produced in dense inflorescences, which have large numbers of prominent styles, which inspired the common name. An added attraction during flowering time is the numerous birds attracted to the plants. The genus is closely related in evolution and appearance to the Australian genus Banksia.

Leucospermum parile commonly known as Malmesbury Pincushion is a South African endemic species found in the Western Cape’s Dassenberg and Paardeberg and is most prominent in Atlantis sand fynbos. Leucospermum parile forms a rounded shrub to 1.5m tall and wide. It has grey linear leaves and rounded heads of rich yellow flowers during spring.