Grevilleas
Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Wright’
We have planted many grevilleas in our garden over 20 years, in fact, 712 plants up to May 2020 of which 200 remain in the garden, and we now have 106 different species and cultivars growing in the garden in June 2024. Our species grevilleas are G. anethifolia, G. australis, G. beadleana, Grevillea beardiana, G. bipinnatifida, G. crithmifolia, G. drummonidii, G. endlicheriana, G. flexuosa, G, hilliana, G. iaspicula, G. insignis, G. longistyla, G. maccutcheonii, G. oleoides, G. olivacea red, G. pimelioides, G. sericea subsp. sericea, G. speciosa, G. tetragonoloba, G. thyrsoides, G. willisii and G. wilkinsonii. These plants bloom each year, mostly in winter, provide food for the birds, and provide lots of interest in the garden. Of the major plant groups that we grow, grevilleas are, surprisingly to me, the least successful in our garden. Only 28% of the grevilleas we planted still survive. Of course, not all of them have died from natural causes. Many of them have been removed for various reasons, failure to thrive, grown too big for the position or damaged by storms or animals.
Grevillea alpina ‘Goldfields’ (photos above)
We planted two Grevillea alpina ‘Goldfields’ in September 2011. These are small, mounding plants with hairy, greyish leaves and pale gold flowers in spring. They both flowered in 2012, but one died in 2015 and the other was crowded out and was removed in October 2017. Six months before removal Ben took cuttings and we planted three of them in 2017. Two have died fairly quickly but the third thrived until 2023 when it died.
Grevillea anethifolia (Photo below)
Our original plant of Grevillea anethifolia was given to us by Neil Marriott in 2014 and has proved very attractive in the garden. This plant is not endangered in the wild in WA and SA, but much of its natural habitat in NSW has been cleared. This plant suckers freely and supplies plenty of new plants for sharing. The foliage is dense and intricate, light green and the white flowers are prolific in spring. This plant should be cut back after flowering and will reward you with new growth.
Grevillea ‘Apricot Tingle’
We planted this low spreading shrub, 30cm high x 1.5m wide, with apricot flowers, in November 2023. This cultivar is best planted in full sun and is drought and frost hardy when established. Bywong selection.
Grevillea ‘Apricot Glow’
Grevillea ‘Apricot Glow’, maybe a cultivar of G. olivacea, was planted in October 2009 and has grown to 1.5m high and 2m wide with greyish oval leaves and apricot spider flowers. We planted another in March 2014, but it did not make it through the winter. Our remaining plant is right on the driveway and very noticeable when in flower. This plant was removed from the driveway in May 2022 as it grew too big for its position.
Grevillea aquifolium (photos above)
We have planted only two Grevillea aquifolium, (one on New Year’s Day 2005 – what was I thinking?), but the resulting bushes cover quite an area. The plant has holly-like, light green foliage and red toothbrush flowers for much of the year. In our garden the foliage tends to be yellowish, even though we have added a mixture of iron chelates, rock minerals and Epsom salts as a tonic. Many of our Proteaceae plants have yellowish foliage, especially in the winter. This plant grows naturally in western Victoria and southeastern South Australia. Its enthusiastic growth is smothering other plants near it. Removed in November 2023.
Grevillea arenaria
We tried many forms of Grevillea arenaria without much success despite the fact that other gardens in Canberra are successful with this species. We planted 12 of these in our foundation planting of 2003. They grow to 2.5m high and 3m wide with grey-green foliage and variable flowers. None of them prospered in our garden and the last one was gone by January 2008. We also tried Grevillea arenaria Warri Bridge form in December 2004 which occurs naturally in the Braidwood area. This is a medium shrub, 1.5-3m high and 2-3m wide, with many yellow green flowers which attract nectar feeding birds. Our plant grew too large for its position even though we trimmed it well in February 2015. It rarely flowered and was removed in February 2017. We also tried two Grevillea arenaria red Pilliga with red blooms from Bilby Blooms in December 2014 but these died early in 2015. We also tried a grafted specimen of Grevillea arenaria subsp. canescens, or Hoary Grevillea, from Yarrangobilly in October 2017. This plant forms a dense compact shrub to 3m high and wide with velvety leaves. We got one flower in January 2018 and the plant died the next week.
Grevillea asteriscosa – Star-Leaf Grevillea
We planted this upright spreading shrub, 2m high and wide, with small, dark green, prickly star shaped leaves and lipstick red flowers with long styles, in August 2020. This plant is native to southwestern Western Australia. We had our first blooms in October 2020 and this plant blooms over a long period. This plant died in February 2023.
Grevillea ‘Aussie Crawl’
Grevillea ‘Aussie Crawl’ and Grevillea ‘Bedspread’ are two grevillea groundcovers created by Peter Ollerenshaw of Bywong Nursery near Canberra. We planted these in February 2004 and one of each survives. ’Aussie Crawl’ has magnificent burgundy toothbrush flowers and has grown to be two metres wide. ‘Bedspread’, a hybrid between G. wilkinsonii and G. ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’, has grown at least 4 m wide and flowers for a long time, always mobbed by bees. It too has red toothbrush flowers, ‘darker and longer than ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’ according to the label.
Grevillea australis (Photo below left)
Grevillea australis , or Alpine Grevillea, is a treasured plant for its highly scented honey-perfumed flowers in early spring. It occurs in the wild in high country areas of Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales. The bush is small with narrow, pointed shiny, dark green leaves. The spider flowers are white or cream. Our original plant is squashed between two larger grevilleas and is often cut back to fit into its too-small space. The second one we planted has more room, but it is yet to grow into a bush.
Grevillea beadleana (Photo above right)
We planted seven G. beadleana plants in our garden and have retained two of them. One was lost to heat and the others to too much rain. These plants form a dense spreading shrub approximately 2m x 2m, with soft greyish felted, divided leaves. The dark red toothbrush flowers make a pleasing contrast with the grey-green leaves. This plant only occurs in a small patch near Walcha, NSW and is listed as endangered in the wild.
Grevillea beardiana orange form
We planted one of these compact shrubs, 0.6m high and 1.5m wide, with a neat habit, dense green foliage and plenty of orange-red flowers, in July 2020. This plant is native to the Newdegate area, WA and is named after John Beard, who mapped the vegetation of WA. We transplanted this shrub November 2022 into more sun, but it is still small.
Grevillea ‘Bedspread’ (photos above)
We planted this prostrate cultivar in February 2004, a hybrid between G. wilkinsonii and G. ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’, with red toothbrush flowers that are darker and longer than ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’. This plant spreads 2-3 m, blooms all summer and is very popular with bees.
Grevillea ‘Big Red’
Grevillea ‘Big Red’ is a shrub 2-3m high and 2-4m wide with dark green leaves and light red flowers that we planted first in December 2004. We planted another in February 2006. These plants are vigorous ‘Poorinda Constance’ seedlings and they grew quickly to impressive shrubs by 2009. Unfortunately, both died suddenly in March and April 2011. These were unusually wet years in Canberra and I think that they resented the soaking. The new one that we planted August 2019 has yet to grow very much.
Grevillea ‘Billy Bonkers’ (photos above)
We planted this grafted shrub, 1m tall and 2m wide, with dark green fishbone leaves and all year round metallic pink flowers, in August 2006. Naturally compact, ‘Billy Bonkers’ has been grafted to G. robusta stock for added reliability in temperatures from -3 deg to 40 deg C. This plant was red by Richard Tomkin, Changers Green Nursery, Gin Gin, Queensland, and was developed from the same cross as ‘Lana Maree’ – G. nana ssp. abbreviata x G. ‘Majestic’. Frosted off in 2015.
Grevillea ‘Billy Wings’ (photos above)
Grevillea ‘Billy Wings’ is an attractive cultivar of Grevillea lavandulacea with grey foliage and red spider flowers in late winter and spring. We planted three of these in the new sand garden in August 2015. One died the next winter, but the other two are thriving.
Grevillea bipinnatifida (Photos above)
We planted six Grevillea bipinnatifida, or Fuschia Grevillea (grafted) (photos above), a sprawling bush with fern-like leaves about 1m high and 1.5m across. It has large red pendulous toothbrush flowers in winter and spring. This shrub occurs naturally in southwestern Western Australia. Four of these had bronze foliage when we received them, as they had been watered with bore water with a high iron content, but soon reverted to green. We have lost four of these plants, even though they seem to be frost hardy. The remaining two are growing well and flower for a long time each year.
Grevillea ‘Boongala Spinebill’ (photos above)
Grevillea ‘Boongala Spinebell’ is a favourite plant, probably a hybrid between G. bipinnatifida and G. caleyi. This plant forms a spreading shrub with deeply lobed leaves and bright red toothbrush flowers, and is said to grow to 2m high by 4m across, but none of our plants has achieved this growth. Most have remained almost prostrate, spreading to 1m wide. We planted 5 of these around the edge of a bed between 2005 and 2009, but despite many efforts to keep them thriving we ended up removing them in 2015. They were battered by the frost. We tried again, planting three in November 2016 and another in February 2018, but none remain. Now have one upright form, planted January 2023 growing and flowering well.
Grevillea ‘Border Red’
We removed Grevillea ‘Border Red’ in error in December 2016 due to miscommunication, but it turned out to be a boon as the shrub was rotted out at the base. We planted ‘Border Red’ in December 2003 and it grew to 2m x 2m in our garden with olive green foliage and red spider flowers over a long period. Removed December 2016 - had borer in the base.
Grevillea ‘Bronze Rambler’
We planted 22 Grevillea ‘Bronze Rambler’ as part of our foundation planting in 2003. This is a vigorous, sprawling shrub with divided leaves, which have bronze new growth, and red toothbrush flowers. ‘Bronze Rambler’ is an outstanding groundcover which can be used to smother weeds, but unfortunately can also smother other plants as it did in our garden. We removed all of these by March 2007 as they were just too vigorous for their position.
Grevillea ‘Bush Lemons’ (photos above)
We have tried twice to establish Grevillea ‘Bush Lemons’, grafted specimens, in our garden but have to admit defeat. Our frosty conditions are too severe for this plant. One, planted in March 2013 died in September 2015 after flowering somewhat in December 2013. The other, planted in February 2018, was frosted off in the winter and died in September 2018. In February 2022, we obtained an advanced standard form of ‘Bush Lemons’ in a pot, and two years later it is performing well. The lemon toothbrush flowers last a long time and the deeply divided grey-green foliage is a bonus. This beautiful plant was developed at Changers Green Nursery in Gin Gin Queensland, but the exact parentage is not known.
Grevillea ‘Canberra Gem’
Grevillea ‘Canberra Gem’ is a vigorous prickly shrub, 2-4m high and 2-5m wide, with many pinkish red flowers. The prickly foliage makes it a haven for small birds. We planted one in September 2008 and it grew too large for the spot I had selected for it, despite constant trimming. We sacrificed this plant in November 2012 and hated to do it.
Grevillea candelabroides
We planted a Grevillea candelabroides, or Candlestick Grevillea, in November 2019 and it started to grow well. This plant should form a shrub 2-3m high and 2m wide, with divided blue-green foliage and large racemes of scented white flowers in late spring and summer. We have placed it in a sunny position and protected it from kangaroos. However, the plant di not thrive and we removed it in March 2023.
Grevillea ‘Carol Ann’ (photos above)
We have planted four Grevillea ‘Carol Ann’, a decumbent, hardy plant, 2m wide, with dense dark green foliage and red spider flowers, the first in 2013, then two in 2016 and one more in 2024.. We have grown one drooping most effectively over a wall. These plants bloom generously for a very long period. This plant is a favourite for bees and a non-stop performer for us.
Grevillea ‘Carramar Yellow’
G. ‘Winpara Gold’ x ‘Lemon Supreme’. We planted this upright shrub, 2.5m high x 2m wide, with light green foliage and clusters of yellow flowers, in February 2021. This is a hardy plant suited to a sunny to partly shaded position and flowered for us the first time in November 2023.
Grevillea ‘Cherry Cluster’
G. rhyolitica x juniperina. We planted two of these semi-prostrate groundcovers, 50cm. high x 1.2m wide, with clean tidy foliage and many cherry flower clusters, in 2016 and another in 2020. This plant is drought and frost hardy, tested to -5deg. Two died in 2016, the other persists.
Grevillea ‘Coastal Glow’
We planted Grevillea ‘Coastal Glow’ in October 2009, a hybrid between G. macleayana and either G. longifolia or G. asplenifolia, a rounded shrub to 2-3m high and wide, with oblong leaves and purplish-red toothbrush flowers. We had prolific bloom in October 2010, but once again, I had chosen a spot not big enough for the rampant growth of this grevillea, even though we trimmed it often. We removed this plant with regret in January 2018.
Grevillea ‘Crackles’ (photos above)
We planted this small shrub, 1m x 1m, with a prolific display of red and yellow flowers in October 2019 and another three in November 2021. This plant is a bee and bird attractor, needs full sun and is frost tolerant.
Grevillea ‘Crimson Villea’ (photos above)
We have planted nine of these compact grevilleas with masses of showy crimson winter flowers, 80cm x 80cm, the first in February 2020, then others in 2021-24. This cultivar of G. rosmarinifolia had its first flowers for us in September 2020, forms a dense bush and flowers over a long period.
Grevillea crithmifolia (Photo below left)
We planted one of these compact shrubs, 2m high x 1m wide, with light green leaves, divided at the end into three narrow segments, and dense clusters of white or pink flowers, in April 2006. This plant bloomed well until it blew over over in the wind February 2009. Ben staked it back and it grew so large that we removed it in March 2014 as it grew too big for its position. This plant is native to the area from Mandurah to Wanneroo, WA. We have planted another in a roomier position September 2020 which is flowering now, October 2021.
Grevillea curviloba
We planted Grevillea curviloba in November 2006 in our rock garden, an evergreen prostrate shrub, with mat-like foliage on arching branches, and white flowers in spring. This plant, from Bullsbrook area, WA grew really well and the strong cinnamon scent of the flowers drifted all over the garden. We cut it back severely in December 2010 as it had become too vigorous and was competing with other plants. We finally had to remove this plant in September 2012 as it did not bounce back from pruning.
Grevillea dimorpha (Photo above right)
Grevillea dimorpha has had a chequered career in our garden. We planted one in October 2012, thought better of the position we chose, removed it from the garden and overwintered it in a pot, placed it in a new and better position only to have it die during December 2015. In the meantime, we had planted a fine leaf form from Kuranga Nursery in November 2012 in a sunny, but protected, position. This plant was very slow to grow, but eventually flowered in December 2017. Now this plant is being overshadowed by more vigorous neighbours and we may have to move it again as it is quite a small plant, only 1m high. It is native to Victoria. Died September 2022.
Grevillea drummondii – Drummond’s Grevillea (photos above)
We planted this shrub in July 2020, to 3m high and 1.5m wide, with softly hairy, dark green foliage and yellow-orange flowers which crowd in the leaf axils and age to pink or red creating a bicolour look. This plant is native to Perth area, WA and is named after the Scotsman, James Drummond, 1784-1863.
Grevillea dryandroides ssp. hirsuta - Phalanx Grevillea
We planted Grevillea dryandroides ssp. hirsuta, or Phalanx Grevillea, a grafted specimen, in November 2008. This plant blooms with red flowers on long trailing stems and has distinguished hard grey fishbone foliage. This plant bloomed well for us until we removed it in October 2010 as it was overtaken by a Callistemon.
Grevillea ‘Elegance’ (photos above)
Grevillea ‘Elegance’ is an important shrub in our garden. We first planted one in August 2006 and another in May 2007 – these plants were both on their own roots. Then we visited the Grevillea Park in Bulli and purchased a grafted Grevillea ‘Elegance’. The grafted grevillea always bloomed more, had more attractive dark green divided foliage and grew taller than the grevilleas on their own roots. In January 2014 we removed the two on their own roots and kept the grafted grevillea which has grown enormous. The plant is now at least 4 metres high and wide and that is after much pruning. The waxy bright pink flowers last from spring to frost. This plant is a hybrid between G. longistyla x G. johnsonii and should more descriptively be called ‘Long John’ according to Peter Olde. We have trimmed this plant many times.
Grevillea ‘Emma Charlotte’ (Photos above)
We planted this hybrid grevillea, 0.5m high x 1m wide, a cross between G. rosmarinifolia and G. lanigera. in June 2008 The flowers are deep pink and attractive to birds.
Grevillea endlicheriana (Photos below)
Grevillea endlicheriana, or Spindly Grevillea, is one of our favourite grevilleas. According to Peter Olde, it is also one of the most primitive of the grevilleas and grows on the Darling Scarp east of Perth and near the Wongan Hills. We planted one in March 2006, and being informed that it was frost sensitive, placed it under some cover. It forms an open shrub which can be 2.5m high and 4m wide, but in our garden is smaller, about 1.5m high and wide. It forms a vase shaped plant with very attractive narrow grey leaves on arching branches. The pink and white flowers occur at the ends of the branches, and in our experience, resent being pruned. We trimmed the branches of our original plant and it sulked for a couple of years. We planted another in September 2008 and took the chance to plant it in the open. This second plant is much more successful and does not flinch at the frost at all. We ended up removing the original plant in March 2017 as it was not getting enough sun.
Grevillea ‘Evelyn’s Coronet’
We planted 7 Grevillea ‘Evelyn’s Coronet’ as part of our foundation planting in 2003. This plant is a hybrid between G. buxifolia and G. lavandulacea, with pinkish mauve flowers for a long period, growing to 2m high and wide. These plants did not thrive in our garden, but died off one by one over many years, the last one in March 2017. I regret that we could not find a position where these plant could prosper.
Grevillea ‘Fire Cracker’ (photo below left)
G. alpina x rosmarinifolia. We planted one of these shrubs, 40cm high x 80cm wide, with soft, dark green foliage with red and yellow flowers, in June 2022. This plant is hardy in well drained soils, frost tolerant and drought resistant.
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’ (photo above right)
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’ is a small shrub, 1m high x 0.75m wide, with bright red and yellow flowers and soft grey-green foliage. We planted three of these in September 2015.
Grevillea flexuosa (photos above)
Grevillea flexuosa, or Zigzag Grevillea, has been a very successful plant for us. Our three specimens have been grafted, and we planted the original plant in a raised courtyard garden in September 2005. This plant was outstanding from the beginning and grew hugely, flowering from 2006 onwards with many scented cream rods over a long period. In 2016 it became too big for its spot and fell over, despite the fact that we hacked it back with a chainsaw every year. We persevered for another year then reluctantly removed this plant in January 2017. Reports from gardeners visiting our garden say that the success of this plant inspired them to try one as well. We planted another in November 2017, but this one was frosted off quickly. We have tried again in a more sheltered spot, planting in November 2019, and so far this one has doubled in size in just a few months and has bloomed over a long period. We hope that it can be as successful as our original plant. This plant comes from a few locations near Toodyay, Western Australia and is endangered in the wild.
Grevillea ‘Flora Gold’
Grevillea ‘Flora Gold’ is a small shrub to 75cm high, a hybrid between Grevillea lanigera x floribunda. This plant has soft green oval foliage and clusters of golden brown buds opening to yellow flowers in winter and spring.
Grevillea ‘Flora Mason’
Grevillea ‘Flora Mason’ forms a bushy shrub 3m high and 2m across but is only 1.5m high and wide in our garden so far. We have had trouble establishing these plants. We planted one in March 2014 and lost it to frost, then another in October 2014 and lost it again. The three that we planted in more protected position in 2016-17 are now established and blooming freely in spring with many flowers of lemon, apricot and soft pink. The name comes from the late Flora Mason who was a very keen native plant grower and collector from South Australia. Removed all in December 2021 as were totally browned off.
Grevillea ‘Forest Rambler’
We planted Grevillea ‘Forest Rambler’ in March 2005. Reading from the plant tag, this cultivar was supposed to be a medium sized shrub to 1.5m high and wide, but in our garden it was at least twice that size. Even though it was a lovely plant, with dark green leaves and many shell pink flowers we ended up removing it in December 2016 as it was just too large and hard to contain.
Grevillea ‘Gold Rush’
Grevillea ‘Gold Rush’ forms a small bush, 1.5m x 1.5m, with yellow flowers with prominent red streaks and orange stamens. We lost our first and second plants, planted in May 2009 and April 2013, but ever hopeful, we are trying again, planting two in February 2020 – no success.
Grevillea ‘Gold Touch’
Grevillea ‘Gold Touch’ is a small shrub to 1m high x 1m wide with pendulous orange-yellow flowers in autumn and winter. Our first plant, planted in August 2019, died in the heat February 2020 so we are trying again, but the new one seems to have disappeared in 2023.
Grevillea ’Goldfever’ (photos above)
We have planted five of these low spreading shrubs, 30cm high and 1.5m, with yellow flowers all year round, from 2005-11. The flowers attract nectar feeding birds. This plant is a Bywong Nursery selection. Only one remains, 2024.
Grevillea hilliana – Hill’s Silky Oak (photo below left)
We planted this interesting grevillea in July 2020, which is named after the discoverer of the species, Walter Hill, 1820-1904. This plant is densely crowned with lush dark green leaves and develops hanging racemes of clusters of small white flowers and is native to coastal Queensland.
Grevillea ‘Hills Jubilee’ (photos above middle and right)
Grevillea ‘Hills Jubilee’ was selected by The Hills Grammar School for their 25th jubilee year. This Bywong Nursery introduction was planted in September 2008 and forms an attractive small shrub that flowers profusely with pink and white flowers and has grown to approximately 1.5m high and 1m across. We removed this plant in November 2023 as it had lots of scale and was not flowering well.
Grevillea ‘Honey Jo’ (photos above)
Grevillea ‘Honey Jo’, planted in March 2018, forms a medium dense shrub, 2.5m high x 1.5m wide, with linear leaves and many perfumed pink spider flowers, September to April. So far this plant is still small for us, but flowering well.
Grevillea ‘Honeyeater Heaven’
Grevillea ‘Honeyeater Heaven’ is a G. lanigera hybrid, 80cm high, with many small red and white flower clusters. We have had a struggle to establish this plant, beginning in May 2008, then two in July 2010 and another three planted in August 2018, before we found the right place in our garden for three plants in January 2019. These have now come through a winter and are flowering well, even though they are small. Most have died and the rest were removed April 2022.
Grevillea ‘Hot Lava’ (photo below)
We planted two of these spreading shrubs 0.7m high x 1.2m wide, with many deep red flowers, in March 2021 and September 2022. One is thriving, the other not so much.
Grevillea iaspicula ‘Wee Jasper’
We planted 7 Grevillea iaspicula ‘Wee Jasper’ in December 2003 and one of them lasted until December 2013 before deteriorating completely. There were only three remaining by October 2005 and they did bloom for a couple of years. This plant, also known as Wee Jasper Spider Flower, is very rare in the wild being found only in a small area near Wee Jasper and was discovered in 1980. ‘Wee Jasper’ forms a shrub to 1.5m high and wide with oblong green leaves and pink and cream terminal flowers. This plant grows well in Canberra gardens with soil that is less clay rich than ours. We planted another one December 2021 – so far, so good.
Grevillea ‘Iced VoVo’
We planted three of these large bushy shrubs, 2.5m high x 3m wide, with long deeply lobed leaves with pale and deep pink toothbrush flowers, the first in May 2023 and the other two in March 2024. This plant needs a well drained site in sun or semi-shade and is an excellent quick growing screen plant providing nesting sites for birds.
Grevillea insignis (grafted 31/10/09 on G. robusta) – Wax Grevillea (photos below)
We were given a specimen of Grevillea insignis, or Wax Grevillea, which was grafted 31/10/09 onto G. robusta by Phil Trickett, grafter extraordinaire. We planted it in our garden in June 2010 and it has become a favourite for us and our garden visitors. It has formed a dense prickly shrub 3m high and 2m across with holly shaped leaves and clusters of pink waxy flowers much beloved by insects and birds, especially Eastern Spinebills. Pruning of this plant in the beginning is essential to keep it compact otherwise it grows long slender branches. We now have a Red Browed Finch nest in this prickly plant. This plant is from southwestern Western Australia but does not seem to notice frost. One of its best features is the veining of the leaves. When the sun shines through the leaves the effect is breathtaking.
Grevillea jephcottii
This species, also known as the Green Grevillea, is a shrub 2.5 m high by 2 m wide with bright green woolly foliage and cream and green flowers much beloved by birds. This plant needs a partly shaded position and adequate water to do well. We planted five of these 2004-6 but eventually removed them all in February 2013 for failure to thrive. These plants are native to Victoria. confined to a few areas near Burrowa-Pine Mountains in NE Victoria.
Grevillea ‘John Evans’ (photos above)
We have planted six Grevillea ‘John Evans’ (photo above), but are left with just two volunteers remaining in our garden. We planted three in August 2004, then another three in November 2006. These thrived for several years, but eventually succumbed to drought and frost. The volunteers, which have placed themselves in an open and frosty position, appeared in 2015. These plants are now 1m x 1m, with very dark green foliage and plenty of red flowers. We planted another in April 2022.
Grevillea juniperina ‘Carpet Queen’ (photos above)
Grevillea juniperina ‘Carpet Queen’ is a tough plant for any position in the garden. We planted one in January 2004, another in October 2005 and a third in September 2006. We are left with one large plant and a couple of volunteers. The two others had to be removed as they outgrew their position, (bad planning on my part). This plant has dense prickly leaves with apricot flowers over a long period and is said to spread to 0.3m wide but has grown much larger than that in our garden. We have one plant hanging over the waterfall, which must be 3m in width, and has Eastern Spinebills nesting in it.
Grevillea juniperina ‘Gold Cluster’
We planted this low growing plant, 30cm high x 1m wide, with dense foliage and many gold flowers in November 2022. This plant tolerates drought and cold and likes full sun to part shade.
Grevillea juniperina ‘Molonglo’ (photo below left)
Grevillea juniperina ‘Molonglo’ is another very tough grevillea with dark green needle foliage and many butterscotch yellow flowers most of the year. This plant was one of our foundation plants chosen by our landscape architect for its reliability, and is a semi-prostrate groundcover which smothers weeds very efficiently. We began with 15 of these planted in December 2003 and still have two remaining after removing some to make way for other plants.
Grevillea juniperina ‘Molonglo Stripy’ (photo above right)
We planted this compact groundcover, 30cm high x 1m wide, with variegated foliage and apricot flowers followed by green and cream striped seed pods, in February 2021. This plant prefers full sun and is frost tolerant. From Mole Station. First flowers October 2023.
Grevillea juniperina prostrate form
We planted this vigorous groundcover, to 2m wide, with dense foliage and red spider flowers in November 2022. This plant prefers a sunny site with moist well drained soils and is native to eastern NSW and southeastern Queensland. Some subspecies vulnerable.
Grevillea juniperina ‘Prostrate Red’
Grevillea juniperina ‘Prostrate Red’ is low growing with green prickly leaves and red blooms over a long period. We planted 22 of these vigorous plants in December 2003 and they performed their role admirably by smothering weeds and providing nectar for the birds. We have removed most of these plants to make way for more interesting, but usually less hardy, plants.
Grevillea ‘Kimberley Moon’
We planted this bushy upright shrub, 2.5m high and wide, with bright green foliage and orange toothbrush flowers over a long period, in November 2023. This plant performs best in full sun and well drained soil. Developed by King’s Park.
Grevillea ‘Knockout’ (photos above)
Grevillea ‘Knockout’ is another Bywong Nursery selection that we planted in October 2017, February 2018 and August 2019. This small, 1m x 1m, plant has very dark green leaves and orange-yellow flowers.
Grevillea ‘Lady O’ (photos above)
Grevillea ‘Lady O’ is Ben’s favourite plant in our garden because it always looks healthy and never stops flowering. This plant is a hybrid between a Grevillea victoriae hybrid and Grevillea rhyolitica and has light green foliage and prolific red flowers. ‘Lady O’ was bred at Bywong Nursery and named after Peter Ollerenshaw’s mother. This bushy plant grows to 2m high and wide. We planted our first ‘Lady O’ in April 2004 and have planted 13 since then over the five years to 2009. This plant is a fabulous performer in our garden.
Grevillea lanigera ‘Celia’ (photo below left)
We planted three of these low hardy shrubs, 45cm high x 1m wide, with pink and white flowers, in 2018. This plant needs full sun and is frost hardy, and the flowers attract birds.
Grevillea lanigera dwarf ‘Greencape’ (photo above right)
We planted Grevillea lanigera dwarf ‘Greencape’ in May 2009 and it formed a compact shrub, 60cm x 60cm, with fine dark green foliage and cream and pink spider flowers, . This plant is very long lasting and attractive in bloom but our plant got scale and began to decline so was removed in February 2017.
Grevillea lanigera lutea (photos above)
We have planted four Grevillea lanigera lutea, or Woolly Grevillea, which form small shrubs in the garden, about 1m high. The best feature of this plant is its long flowering period. The yellow drooping racemes of flower are very cheerful and contrast nicely with the pale green foliage. This plant is a reliable performer in the garden, and is native to southeastern New South Wales and the ACT. We also have a cultivar of Grevillea lanigera called ‘Celia’ which we planted in October 2017, February 2018 and April 2018. This low hardy shrub, 45cm high x 1m wide has pink and white flowers in winter and spring.
Grevillea lavandulacea ‘Penola’
We planted this dense shrub, 1.2m high and wide, with fine, soft, grey foliage and prolific red flowers, in November 2022. This plant needs a sunny open position in most well drained soils. Could not obtain ‘Tanunda’ so substituted this one.
Grevillea lavandulacea ‘Tanunda’ (photos above)
Grevillea lavandulacea ‘Tanunda’ is a low compact shrub with silver grey foliage and brilliant dark pink flowers in late winter to spring. We planted three in September 2009 and two more in February 2020. We removed two as they were miserable in the rain of December 2021. The contrast between the foliage and flower colour is beautiful.
Grevillea ‘Lemon Daze’ (photos above)
We have unfortunately had many failures with Grevillea ‘Lemon Daze’, a 1m x1m shrub with bright yellow and pink pendulous flowers, again a Bywong Nursery selection. We planted three in April 2009, then six in June 2009, one in February 2010, one January 2011, three May 2015 and another in September 2015. We have really tried to get this plant established in our garden in many different positions. We now have one remaining, which is finally growing and flowering well and is a very attractive grevillea. However, the others often had yellowing foliage, which we treated with iron chelates, died suddenly, or failed to thrive in our garden.
Grevillea ‘Lemon Supreme’
Grevillea ‘Lemon Supreme’ is another grevillea that we have struggled to grow. We now have one doing well and flowering sparsely, but this is on our fifth attempt. ‘Lemon Supreme’ is a hybrid between G. thelemanniana x G. olivacea, an evergreen shrub, 1.5m x 1.5m, with lemon yellow flowers in winter and spring. For us this plant is not frost hardy in the open and must have some shelter in the garden. We planted three in November 2007, another in April 2014 and the one that survives, which is shy to flower, in December 2016.
Grevillea leptobotrys ‘Lilac Tangles’
We planted Grevillea leptobotrys ‘Lilac Tangles’ in a pot in June 2017. This is a delightful cultivar with tangled silver foliage and lilac flowers which performed well for us for a couple of years before succumbing to the terrific heat of January 2020. We planted another two in pots in March 2024.
Grevillea ‘Lillian’
We planted three Grevillea ‘Lillian’ in February 2008 and these have grown slowly to be spreading shrubs 1m high and 2.5m wide with fresh green narrow leaves and deep pink and white flowers over a long period.
Grevillea ‘Little Sparkler’ (photo below left)
We have planted seven of these dwarf shrubs, 50 cm high x 80cm wide, with plenty of globular waxy orange and yellow flowers, from 2019-2021. This plant originates from south coast of NSW and flowers from early winter to late spring, grows best in well drained soil in full sun, and is hardy to both dry periods and frost. Five planted in the large planter near the front door died over winter 2021 and the remaining one over winter 2023
Grevillea longistyla (photo above right)
Grevillea longistyla grows in Queensland in the Blackdown Tableland, Isla Gorge and Gurulmundi areas on sandstone ridges according to Olde and Marriott. ( The Grevillea Book, v. 1-3). We have planted one of these in November 2019 and it is making new growth and blooming in October 2020. This shrub should grow to 3-4m high and has showy orange-red flowers.
Grevillea maccutcheonii (photo below left)
Grevillea maccutcheonii is a very rare plant and we were lucky to obtain one from Bilby Blooms near Coonabarabran. We planted it in October 2014 and it has grown to 1m x 1m so far. The three lobed leaves have an interesting shape and the red spider flowers last for a long period. This plant occurs only in southwestern Western Australia near Busselton and is listed as endangered in the wild. We have planted another in June 2024. We removed the original plant in early 2024 as it was shaded out, and Ben made cuttings.
Grevillea ‘Medika Marvel’ (photo above right)
G. arenaria x lavandulacea. We planted this dense shrub, 1.5m high x 1.8m wide, with silvery grey foliage and salmon pink flowers, in February 2021. Best grown in full sun but will tolerate some shade and moderate frosts and needs good air movement. First flowers for us in September 2022 and was still flowering 2 months later.
Grevillea ‘Mellow Yellow’
We planted this cultivar of G. lanigera, 30cm high x 1m wide, with fine light green grey foliage and bright yellow flowers, in December 2020. Best in full sun or part shade.
Grevillea ‘Moe Gem’ (photos above)
We planted this hybrid between G. ‘Poorinda Peter’ x G. ‘Nectar Delight’, height 0.5-0.75m x width 3-4m, a dense plant with ruby toothbrush flowers and attractive lobed foliage with red new growth, in January 2021.
Grevillea ‘Nancy Otzen’
This hybrid evergreen shrub, 1-2m high, with soft green foliage and attractive red and cream flowers in winter and spring likes to be trimmed to keep it in shape. We have it in a hot and dry position and it performs magnificently. All gone now in 2024.
Grevillea ‘New Blood’
Grevillea ‘New Blood’ is another Bywong Nursery introduction, a groundcover to 1.5m across with deep red flowers over a long period. We have planted six of these over three years 2009-2011 and most have lasted well through the drought and frost. Mostly removed by October 2023.
Grevillea nivea ‘Scarlet King’ (photo below left)
Grevillea nivea ’Scarlet King’ has been a disappointment in our garden because we placed it poorly. We planted a grafted specimen in October 2010, but this plant does not get enough sun to flower well and thrive. We have attempted to open up the foliage around it to get more sun and it has flowered, but not well. In the Australian Native Botanic Gardens this plant has beautiful white branches and dark red toothbrush flowers in abundance. We must plant another one in a better position. We have now planted two in pots at the front door in September 2022.
Grevillea oleoides (photo above right)
Grevillea oleoides is a robust plant that grows and blooms well. We planted two in March 2006 and both grew to about 2.5m and bloomed reliably each year with clusters of red flowers. These plants are native to a restricted area of New South Wales near Sydney, Blue Mountains and Wollongong. One plant eventually was removed in June 2016 and replaced.
Grevillea olivacea
Grevillea olivacea is a tall shrub which grows in the wild along a narrow coastal strip near Jurien Bay, Western Australia. The leaves are reminiscent of olive trees, hence the name. The flowers are prolific, and in our garden red, although other colours occur. Our shrub, planted in May 2009, was frosted off regularly every winter for three years but has now adapted to our winters and has grown to 4m tall. The plant grew at a diagonal and eventually fell over the path, was propped up for a year and then was cut back to half of its width. We also have a cultivar of this plant, Grevillea olivacea ‘Two Tone’ which has red and yellow flowers. We planted one in the open January 2019, but it succumbed to the frost. We have planted another in February 2020, and one more in September 2020, in a more sheltered spot. We have also planted Grevillea olivacea orange form in April 2021, an evergreen shrub, 2-4m high and 2-6m wide, with dense green foliage and many orange flowers from winter to early spring. We also planted Grevillea olivacea ‘Red Prolific’ in February 2021, a bushy rounded shrub, 1.5-2.5m high and wide, with greyish rounded foliage and clusters of red flowers in mid spring and early summer. We planted Grevillea olivacea ‘Scarlet Gem’ in February 2021, a hardy shrub, 3m high x 2m wide, with rounded dark green foliage and many scarlet flowers in late winter. All these later plantings are along the fence line where they receive some protection from the frost.
Grevillea ‘Orange Box’ (photos above)
Grevillea ‘Orange Box’ is a very reliable compact bush, 1.5m high and 1.2m wide, with glossy dark green foliage and many bright orange flowers during the year. This is a plant which can be trimmed into a hedge or allowed to grow naturally. We have planted two of them, one in September 2006, which was blown over in a storm, and another in September 2015 which persists.
Grevillea ‘Orange Marmalade’
We planted one Grevillea ‘Orange Marmalade’ in October 2008 that we purchased from Grevillea Park, Bulli. This cultivar is probably a cross between G. venusta and G. glossadia and arose in the garden of R. and G. Norris, Burbank, Queensland. This plant grows to 2.5m high and 2m wide with long, linear green leaves and bright orange flowers at the ends of the stems. Our plant did bloom, but was frosted off each winter and eventually died in August 2011.
Grevillea ‘Peaches and Cream’ (photos above)
This shrub is a slightly frost sensitive plant from the garden of Denis Cox and Jan Glazebrook, 1.2m x 1.5m, with attractive divided foliage and lovely peach and cream flowers in profusion during summer. This plant needs a little frost protection in Canberra, but is worth the bother. Grevillea ‘Peaches and Cream’ is a standout grevillea for us, the only large flowered grevillea that we can grow in our garden. We planted three of them over three years, 2005-7 up against a warm wall and they have thrived. The foliage is bright green and divided, and the flowers are stunning, large cream spider flowers, that turn to peach on maturing. They are challenged in our garden by the shade of the nearby lemon trees and have reached out into the path to get more sun, but we forgive them for blocking the path because of their stunning blooms. We removed the original plants in March 2023 and replaced them.
Grevillea pimelioides (photo below left)
We planted This erect shrub, 2.5m high, with red tipped, hard yellow flowers in September 2010. This plant is native to the Helena and Canning River regions southeast of Perth, WA. We transplanted our specimen to a large pot in February 2012 and cut it back quite severely. Our original plant died in December 2016 and we planted another in July 2020.
Grevillea ‘Pink Candelabra’ (photo above right)
We planted this cultivar, 3m high x 1m wide, a narrow, pencil-shaped shrub with pinkish red flowers, in July 2020. This plant does not tolerate frost, so must be protected in Canberra and is therefore in a pot under cover.
Grevillea ‘Pink Lady’ (photos above)
Grevillea ‘Pink Lady’ is a hybrid with G. juniperina as one parent, forming a spreading plant 0.5m high and 2m wide. The bright green prickly foliage shows off the pink flowers with green styles persisting over a long period. We have planted two of them, one in May 2008 and another in August 2013.
Grevillea ‘Pink Pearl’
We planted one Grevillea ‘’Pink Pearl’ in September 2009. This plant has a spreading bushy habit with many clusters of pink flowers over a long period. The height is supposed to be 2m but our plant quickly outgrew its position and was sacrificed in November 2011. I hated to do it as it was a great plant, but needed far more room than I had allowed from reading the plant description.
Grevillea ‘Pink Profusion’
We planted this compact bushy shrub, 1.5m high and wide, with divided foliage and pinky-red cylindrical flowers over a long period, in November 2023. This plant prefers full sun in well drained soils and is tolerant of light frosts. Bred by King’s Park.
Grevillea plurijuga ‘Purple Haze’
We do not have many standard grevilleas, but Grevillea plurijuga ‘Purple Haze’ is well worth growing. We have planted two of them, in April 2010 and 2011, and they provide much interest over a long period. The leaves are long and divided and the trailing branches flower at the tips with purple-pink flowers. This plant is native to the Esperance area of WA.
Poorinda grevilleas
Leo Hodge of W Tree in Gippsland produced 50 hybrids with the name of his property ‘Poorinda’ included in the name. All Leo’s hybrids are hardy and free flowering. Unfortunately most appear to have gone out of “horticultural fashion”. We have fifteen different ‘Poorinda’ grevillea hybrids and are creating a ‘Poorinda’ hill in one area of the garden. We have ‘Adorning’, ‘Anticipation’ ‘Constance’, ‘Diadem’, ‘Elegance’, ‘Enchantment’, ‘Firebird’, ‘Marian’, ‘Queen’, ‘Rondeau’, ‘Royal Mantle’, ‘Signet’ and ‘Tranquility’. Most of these are quite large shrubs, 2m x 2m or larger, ‘Constance’, ‘Elegance’, ‘Firebird’, ‘Jennifer Joy’, ‘Marian, ‘Queen’, ‘Signet’ and ‘Tranquility’.
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Adorning’ (photos below)
We planted two of these spreading shrubs, 0.5 – 1m high x 2m wide, with narrow prickly leaves and terminal pinkish-red woolly spider flowers, in October 2015 and August 2023.
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Anticipation’
We planted this cross between G. longifolia and G. willisii, raised in cultivation by Leo Hodge at his ‘Poorinda’ property, W Tree, via Buchan, Victoria, in March 2021. This cultivar grows to 2m high by 2.5m wide, forming a moderately dense shrub with deeply dissected leaves and pink toothbrush flowers. We planted another in May 2024.
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Constance’ (photo below left)
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Constance’ has dark green elliptical leaves and orange red flowers. We have planted two of these on the hill in December 2019.
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Diadem’ (photo above right)
We planted this evergreen shrub 2-3m high x 2-5m wide, with shiny aromatic foliage and many butterscotch yellow flowers with long red styles, in November 2021. This plant prefers a sunny well drained position and tolerates light frosts. Grevillea ‘Poorinda Diadem’ is said to be a seedling of G. ‘Poorinda Leane’ and was registered in the 1970’s.
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Elegance’
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Elegance’ has many apricot yellow flowers with bright pink styles with dark green foliage. We planted two of these in February 2006 and one in April 2012. Two of these died, but the one that remains looks healthy and flowers well each year. This plant was removed from the driveway in May 2022 as it grew too big for its position. We planted another in a more spacious location.
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Enchantment’
We planted this large shrub, 4m high x 3m wide, with deeply divided foliage with purple-bronze new growth and pinkish mauve toothbrush flowers, in November 2022. Best in full sun or part shade, tolerant of frost, and bird attracting.
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Firebird’ (photos above)
We have planted five Grevillea ‘Poorinda Firebird’ with scarlet flowers. We planted two in April 2008, one in September 2019 and another two on the hill in February 2020.
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Jennifer Joy’
We planted two of these low spreading evergreen shrubs, 1m high and wide, with dainty mauve-pink, spider flowers in March 2023. These plants thrive in a sunny open position in well-drained soils and are drought and light frost resistant.
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Marian’
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Marian’, planted in May 2009, is a small shrub with narrow green leaves and many pinkish red flowers. We planted one along the back fence line and it has become somewhat overcome by other plants, but flowers bravely each year. We now have another, planted in May 2022, along the driveway.
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Peter’
We planted eight of these registered cultivars of great vigor, which quickly reach 3m high by 4m wide, as part of our foundation planting in 2003. The long leaves are deeply lobed and the red toothbrush flowers are seen in spring and summer. ‘Peter’ is an excellent screen plant and provides nesting places for birds. Grows best in full sun to part shade. These plants did not thrive for us and all were eventually removed. We now have one new ‘Peter’ which was planted in March 2023.
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Queen’ (photos above)
We planted Grevillea ‘Poorinda Queen’ in October 2007 and it has developed into a large dense shrub with apricot flowers for a long period.
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Rondeau’
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Rondeau’ was planted first in October 2004, bloomed for several years, then disappeared under other plants. Another specimen was planted in the back garden in September 2019. This plant should make a small shrub with profuse clusters of bright pink flowers.
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’ is a prostrate plant, possibly a hybrid between G. laurifolia and G. willisii. This plant forms a vigorous groundcover with prolific dark red toothbrush flowers over a long period. Our landscape architect originally planted 18 of these in our rock garden in 2003, but by 2004 they quickly became too vigorous and smothered all other plants and had to be removed. We planted two more plants grafted onto Grevillea robusta stems and they form an attractive entry to our garden as they cascade from the top of the stems to the ground.
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Signet’ (photo below left)
We planted three Grevillea ‘Poorinda Signet’, the first in May 2009. This plant flowered the next year and promptly died. We have now planted another two in 2018-19 in different parts of the garden and are hoping for the best. This plant, when mature, has plenty of pink and white flowers with glossy green pointed foliage.
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Tranquility’ (photo above right)
We planted one Grevillea ‘Poorinda Tranquility’ along the fence line in August 2019, then two more on the hill in December 2019. We hope that these will grow to large shrubs with grey-green foliage and profuse pink and cream flowers. The smaller ‘Poorinda’ shrubs that we grow are ‘Adorning’, ‘Marian’, ‘Rondeau’ and ‘Royal Mantle’. ‘Adorning’, planted in October 2015, is a small spreading shrub 0.5 – 1m high and 2m wide, with narrow prickly leaves and terminal bright pinkish-red spider flowers.
Grevillea ‘Red Robin’
We planted this low growing hybrid grevillea, 0.5m high x 1-2m wide, with many reddish orange flowers in September 2023. This plant prefers full sun and is frost tolerant. Planted in top sand garden.
Grevillea ‘Red Sunset’
Grevillea ‘Red Sunset’, a cross between G. presisiana x G. olivacea, is a fast growing compact shrub, 2m x 2m, with many deep red spider flowers in winter and spring. Our first shrub, planted in April 2014, died, so we planted the next three under more protection in 2016 and 2018. All three are now established but have yet to produce any flowers. Patience is required. One bush has now bloomed, sparsely, but has suddenly grown much larger in 2021.
Grevillea rhyolitica x ‘Deua Gold’
We planted three Grevillea rhyolitica x ‘Deua Gold’ on February 2019. These have grown well and flowered with yellow-gold blooms on arching green foliage. After two years they were thinning out and looking poorly in October 2021, but have now rebounded with La Nina rain in 2022, however removed April 2022 for failure to thrive.
Grevillea robusta - Silky Oak
We planted Grevillea robusta, or Silky Oak, in April 2004. This iconic tree grows to 30m in a favourable climate, with large divided leaves with a grey-green undersurface and bronze new growth. The bright orange flowers drip nectar and attract birds. This plant is native to the east coast from Coffs Harbour to Maryborough, Queensland. Our plant flowered well in December for four years until it was demolished by the fall of the pine tree in July 2016.
Grevillea rosmarinifolia
We have several Grevillea rosmarinifolia forms, most of them hardy and floriferous. These plants have bright green prickly foliage and flower in various colours. We have a green and cream form which tolerates only light frosts so has been placed under a Casuarina. The flowers are very attractive and long lasting. We have also been given cuttings of a plant which is particularly free flowering and grows on the edge of a busy road in full sun and exposure to frost. This plant has pink and cream flowers which also last a long time. We also have a cultivar called ‘Lara’s Dwarf’ which is a small rounded shrub only 0.7m high with grey needle foliage and clusters of pinkish red flowers in winter and spring.
Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Rosy Posy’
We planted 38 Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Rosy Posy’ in the years 2003-4. This is a small compact shrub, 1.2m high and wide, with fresh green foliage and pendant pink and cream flowers. Several of our original plantings were attacked by cockatoos and we netted the remaining plants. We moved 13 plants from near the water to drier conditions and most of the transplants died. Most of those remaining flourished for many years before beginning to decline and were removed in two lots, one in January 2016 and the rest in August 2018.
Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Scarlet Sprite’
We planted 24 of these shrubs, height to 1 m, with fresh green foliage and brilliant red flowers, from 2003-08. They did not thrive for us and we ended up removing all of them.
Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Wright’ (photos above)
We were given cuttings of this plant by Pat and Warwick Wright from the roadside near their home. Ben made four seedlings and planted these in February 2018. These shrubs bloomed profusely every year until 2024, when they browned off and died.
Grevillea ‘Rosemary’s Choice’
We planted one of these vigorous shrubs, to 3m high x 1m wide, producing pink, yellow and mauve flowers over a long period, in May 2024. This plant needs full sun, well drained soils and is frost hardy, and is developed from Winpara hybrids. Replaces G. rosmarinifolia ‘Wright’. Put plenty of sand in hole.
Grevillea sericea ssp. sericea pink form (photos above)
We planted this evergreen shrub, 1-2m high x 2m wide, with many dainty pink flowers in February 2022. This plant prefers a partly shaded site, but will tolerate full sun and can withstand dry periods and moderate frost. Native to the area around Sydney.
Grevillea ‘Shirley Howie’
Grevillea Shirley Howie’ is a small spreading shrub to 1m x 1m, with soft foliage and dainty deep pink spider flowers. We planted one in October 2018 in the back garden, but it has yet to grow much.
Grevillea ‘Sid Reynolds’ (photos above)
Grevillea ‘Sid Reynolds’ (photos above), planted in September 2014, has already grown to a dense rounded shrub 2.5m high and wide with lovely spider flowers of red and pink with a yellow limb. We saw a shrub of ‘Sid’ in South Australia at Pangarinda Botanic Gardens which was much larger, probably 4m x 4m, in full flower, a magnificent sight.
Grevillea speciosa
We planted Grevillea speciosa, or Red Spider Flower, in October 2009 and it has grown to a large bush 1.5m high and 2m wide with bright red flowers, not all year as advertised, but for a long period from late winter through summer. This plant comes from the greater Sydney area and has slightly prickly leaves which form a bushy haven for small birds. We also have grown Grevillea speciosa x oldei which we planted in 2015. This small spreading shrub grows to 1m high and 1.5m across with many dark pink flowers over a long period.
Grevillea speciosa x oldei (photos above)
We planted this spreading shrub, 1m high x 1.5m wide, with profuse dark pink flowers, in February 2015. This plant needs freely draining acidic soils in sun or dappled shade and flowers over a long period. Died suddenly March 2022.
Grevillea ‘Strawberries and Cream’
Grevillea ‘Strawberries and Cream’ (photos above) forms a medium shrub with clusters of red flowers with a white edge and soft grey green foliage. Flowers occur from autumn to spring. Our shrub, planted in September 2011, is trying to grow larger than the advertised 1.2m high x 1.5m wide, but we keep pruning it every year to fit its position. This plant was removed from the driveway in May 2022 as it grew too big for its position.
Grevillea ‘Strawberry Blonde’
We planted Grevillea ‘Strawberry Blonde’, a cross between G. ‘Sandra Gordon and G. caleyi, in March 2006. This plant forms a compact bush, 2m high and 1.5m wide, with stiff honey-coloured toothbrush flowers and soft green divided foliage. Our plant had a rocky start, being somewhat yellow in foliage for several years, but was just beginning to thrive when Acacia caeuerlescens fell on it and demolished it in September 2013.
Grevillea striata
We planted Grevillea striata, or Beefwood in February 2020, which can grow to tree size (10m) with leathery blue green foliage and showy cream flowers from spring until summer. This plant is native to all Australian mainland states except Victoria. The common name comes from the red timber which is used for furniture. So far our plant is very small, but we hope that it will thrive in the protected area that we chose for it. Unfortunately this plant succumbed in winter ‘21.
Grevillea ‘Sunkissed’
Grevillea juniperina x rhyolitica 'Sunkissed'. We planted this compact low mounding grevillea in december 2020, 30 cm high x 75 cm wide, drought tolerant, ideal for rockeries and containers and should do better on clay soils than many grevilleas. Birds love the curly apricot flowers right through autumn and again in spring. This plant needs a warm, sunny position. First flowers for us in January 2021.
Grevillea ‘Sunrise’
Grevillea ‘Sunrise’ has been a failure in our garden, but quite successful for other Canberra gardeners. This plant forms a compact shrub, 0.5m high and 1m wide, with grey-green lobed leaves and large apricot flowers. We planted our first ‘Sunrise’ in March 2009, but it bloomed very sparsely, and we moved it to more sun. It promptly died. The second one was planted in March 2014 and has grown quite well, but not flowered.
Grevillea x semperflorens (photos above)
Grevillea x semperflorens’ was sold to us as ‘Mallee Dawn’ but Peter Olde quickly identified it for us as x semperflorens’, one of the earliest hybrid grevilleas ever produced. This cultivar was developed in England and was first formally described in 1937 by F.E. Briggs in The Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society of London as Grevillea semperflorens. We planted three in September 2007 and quickly realised our mistake as they grew much too large for their position and had to be removed. We planted another in February 2019 in a better spot, but this one disappeared for a few months, but has now reappeared and is flowering. The flowers are a lovely soft apricot colour. We have planted five more of these plants in October 2022.
Grevillea tetragonoloba (photos above)
We planted Grevillea tetragonoloba in March 2010 and it has taken a long time to grow and flower. Now it has formed a spreading shrub about 1m high and 2.5m wide with prickly leaves and red toothbrush flowers which last for a long time. It first bloomed in 2012 but has taken until last year to really flower well. This plant is native to an area between Albany and Esperance, WA.
Grevillea ‘Tickled Pink’
Grevillea ‘Tickled Pink’ is a small shrub to 1m high that we planted in our courtyard garden in the early days. It flowered exceptionally well with large clusters of soft pink flowers but was ousted by other plants. I looked for it again in the nursery but could not find it for several years. I eventually found it as a standard shrub and we planted it in July 2010. It has never flowered as freely as the original plant did and is a bit disappointing.
Grevillea thyrsoides (photos above)
We planted Grevillea thyrsoides, a standard grafted on Grevillea robusta, in April 2011. This plant comes from Kalbarri, WA and in nature is a low mounding shrub to 70cm with a spread of 2m. Our plant was somewhat overwhelmed by its very vigorous neighbour, Grevillea flexuosa, but since we removed that shrub has developed and flowered well. The foliage is a feature of this plant, grey needles which are hard to the touch, and the red toothbrush flowers are borne at the ends of long stalks.
Grevillea ‘Waverley Ghost’ (photos above)
We planted Grevillea 'Waverley Ghost', a variegated sport from a potted specimen of Grevillea 'Poorinda Constance' in the nursery of the Victorian State Schools Horticultural Society in Glen Waverley, Victoria, in September 2014. This cultivar forms a dense, bushy shrub to 1.5m high and from 1.5 to 2m wide with variegated cream and light green foliage and red flowers. This plant is exceptionally vigorous and will fast overwhelm other plants in its ambit. We clip this plant regularly.
Grevillea ‘White Knight’
We have planted three of these rounded shrubs, 1m high and wide, with cream or white flowers, in February 2020. This hardy shrub, developed at Bywong Nursery, has vivid green foliage and the plants are frost hardy and drought tolerant when established. Only one remains in 2024.
Grevillea ‘Wild Gold’
We planted this bushy low-growing shrub, 1m high x 2m wide, with dense, lime-green foliage and large yellow flower clusters , in August 2019. This plant grows best in well drained soil in full or partial sun, is bird attracting and first bloomed for us in September 2021.
Grevillea wilkinsonii (photos above)
We planted a group of three Tumut Grevilleas, Grevillea wilkinsonii, which are rare and endangered in the wild, in October 2016. G. wilkinsonii was first discovered in 1991 along the banks of the Goobarragandra River near Tumut in NSW. They form an upright bush with distinctive toothed foliage and the flowers are pinkish-mauve spider flowers with a rather unpleasant smell of unwashed socks. One has died but the other two remain.
Grevillea willisii – Omeo Grevillea
We have planted three of these arching, horizontally spreading, dense shrubs, 2.5m high x 3m wide, two in 2010 and one in February 2022. This plant is native to eastern Victoria and adaptable in cultivation, succeeding in cold-wet and hot-dry climates. Hardy to frost to at least -11deg. and needs low humidity. An attractive shrub with grey green leaves and long racemes of creamy white flowers with red new growth and is long lived in cultivation. Original plant died suddenly December 2011. Second plant never did thrive or bloom – removed December 2019. Third plant in lower sand garden growing well.
Grevillea ‘Winpara Apricot’ (photos above)
We planted this hardy bushy shrub, 1.2 – 2m high and wide, with intricate light green foliage and apricot spider flowers in February 2021. This plant can tolerate sun or part shade and is frost tolerant. First flowers for us in November 2023.
Grevillea ‘Winpara Sunrise’
We have planted three Grevillea ‘Winpara Sunrise’ on the ‘Poorinda’ Hill in February 2020. This plant is a hybrid between G. olivacea x G. thelemanniana, and grows into a shrub 1.5-3m high x 1-2m wide with rounded dark green foliage and many well displayed red and orange flowers. First flowers for us in November 2023.
Grevillea ‘Winter Delight’ (photo below left)
Grevillea ‘Winter Delight’ is a hybrid between. G. lanigera prostrate x G. lavandulaceae, which develops into a low shrub 30cm high x 1m across, with soft grey foliage and red, pink and cream flowers in winter and spring. We planted six in March 2008, and replaced one in April 2017, but many of them are not thriving.
Grevillea ‘Winter Flame’ (photo above right)
We planted nine Grevillea ‘Winter Flame’, a selected hybrid of G. alpina and G. rosmarinifolia, 1m x 1m, with red/gold flowers, in September 2016. Most of these have performed well – we lost one in March 2018 and another in May 2024.
Grevillea ‘Winter Kiss’ (photos above)
We planted this low ground coverer, 0.15m high x 1m wide, with small bright green leaves and many red and cream spider flowers, in February 2015. This is a hardy plant and attractive to birds.
Grevillea ‘Winter Nectar’
We planted this groundcover, 0.3m high x 1.5m wide, which prefers full sun and is frost tolerant and has red flowers over a long period, in December 2021, and three more in November 2023.
Grevillea ‘Woolly Bear Hero’ (photos above)
Grevillea ‘Woolly Bear Hero’ is a selection of G. lanigera, a low plant about 1m wide, with attractive grey-green foliage and dark pink flowers over a long period. We have planted five of them over a five year period, 2010-15, in various parts of the garden and they perform well
