Grevillea spp.
grevilleas
Australia, with a few species in New Guinea, New Caledonia, Sulawesi, and Indonesia
Overview
Grevillea spp. is a genus of about 360 species of evergreen shrubs and trees in the protea family (Proteaceae), native mostly to Australia. The genus ranges from prostrate groundcovers a few inches high to shrubs and trees up to 35 ft (10 m), with leaves that vary from soft and fern-like to narrow and needle-sharp, in green to silvery gray. The flowers have no broad petals; instead, slender tubular blooms with long curved styles are packed into one-sided spider-like clusters or dense cylindrical toothbrush spikes, in red, orange, yellow, pink, and white. Many species flower through winter and spring and again at intervals across the year, producing nectar that draws honeyeaters and other birds in Australia and hummingbirds where the plants are grown in the Americas. Like other members of the protea family, grevilleas grow in low-phosphorus soils and are damaged by the phosphate fertilizers that suit most garden plants. The genus tolerates drought, heat, and poor sandy soil once established, but most species are frost-tender and damaged below about 25 F (-4 C). The foliage and flowers of some species can irritate skin on contact.
Native Range
Grevillea spp. is native mainly to Australia, where it grows in heath, woodland, forest, and dry scrub across the continent, with a small number of species in New Guinea, New Caledonia, Sulawesi, and eastern Indonesia. The genus is most diverse in southwestern and eastern Australia.Suggested Uses
Grevillea spp. is grown as flowering shrubs, hedges, screens, and groundcovers in dry, coastal, and water-wise gardens in mild climates, and in containers that can be moved under cover in cold regions. The nectar-rich flowers are planted in bird and pollinator gardens, where they draw honeyeaters and hummingbirds. Prostrate species are used as bank and slope cover, spaced 3 to 6 ft (0.9 to 1.8 m) apart depending on their spread.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 35'
Width/Spread3' - 15'
Bloom Information
Many Grevillea spp. species flower heavily through winter and spring and produce scattered flushes at other times, so plants in mild climates are seldom without some bloom. Each spider-like or toothbrush cluster is rich in nectar and lasts for weeks. The flowers draw nectar-feeding birds, including honeyeaters in Australia and hummingbirds in the Americas.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
red, orange, yellow, pink, or white, in spider-like or cylindrical clustersFoliage Description
green to gray-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grevillea spp. grows in full sun and free-draining, sandy or gravelly, low-phosphorus soil at an acid to neutral pH of about 5.0 to 6.5. Phosphate fertilizers harm the roots, so only low-phosphorus feed or none is used, and the plants tolerate drought and poor soil once established. Heavy, wet, or limy soil causes root rot and decline, making sharp drainage the main requirement. Most species are frost-tender and grow outdoors in USDA zones 9 to 11, though some from cooler parts of Australia take light frost to about zone 7. Light watering during establishment and through long droughts keeps the plants growing, after which little care is needed. The foliage can cause skin irritation, and few pests trouble the genus beyond scale and root rot in wet ground.Pruning
Prune Grevillea spp. lightly after each main flush of flowering to keep the plant bushy and to remove spent blooms. Tip-pruning from a young age builds a dense framework, while old, woody, or straggly plants can be cut back harder, as many species resprout from the base. The cut foliage can irritate skin during the work.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late springsummer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons