Propagation
Surface sow fresh seeds in flats with a very well-drained media and lightly cover with clean sand. Keep moist but not wet for 30 days at 16ş to 18ş C. (61ş to 64ş F) or until germination occurs. Prick out when large enough to handle into pots and grow on for 12 months.

Take semi-hardwood cuttings of the current season's growth in autumn or spring and apply rooting hormone and placed in a well drained media on a misty bench with bottom heat at a temperature of 19ş to 27ş C. (66ş to 81ş F).

Botanic information
Leaf: The leathery textured grey green political leaves are up to 55 mm (2? in) wide and taper towards the base with a petiole up to 20 mm (ľ in) long. They have prominent yellowish mid-rib and thickened entire margins and when young the leaves are densely pubescent and mature leaves are glaucous.

Flower: The individual pubescent tubulate flowers have sepals that split into four, allowing the curved style to emerge. The sessile cluster is enclosed in an involucre of imbricate silvery-pinkish bracts with the inner bracts densely covered in purplish black or white hairs. The flower head forms a cone-shape that is up to 130mm (5? in) long by 60 mm (2? in) wide. They appear from autumn to winter but may appear sporadically throughout winter to summer.

Note:
Flowers are pollinated by the Sugarbird that transfers pollen while collecting nectar and the Protea beetles.

Fruit: The fruit is a bearded nut and the small seeds are viable but the plant is commonly reproduced vegetatively.