The early bud stage of the flowerhead sees the Leucospermum catherinae perianth tips neatly together in tight, spiralling rows to a cone-shaped top. In fact, the visible part of the flowerhead consists entirely of yellowish green perianth tips, acutely pointed, apart from the small bracts ringed around the base (Manning, 2007; Eliovson, 1983; iNaturalist; http://pza.sanbi.org).