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Grevillea speciosa

red spider flower

Proteaceae New South Wales, Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Grevillea speciosa is an evergreen shrub reaching 3-7 feet (0.9-2 m) tall and 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) wide, with an upright to spreading habit and rusty-hairy young stems. Leaves are oval to elliptic, 0.8-2 inches (2-5 cm) long, dark green above and densely hairy beneath, with margins that are flat to slightly rolled. Clusters of red spider-like flowers form at the stem tips, each cluster 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) across, with long curved styles that give the spidery appearance. Flowering occurs over much of the year, with a peak from winter into spring. The flowers produce nectar that draws honeyeaters and other nectar-feeding birds. Growth is moderate to fast, and plants are short-lived, often persisting 6-10 years. It grows in sandy, well-drained, low-phosphorus soils and is sensitive to phosphorus-rich fertilizers and prolonged waterlogging. Contact with the foliage and flowers can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Native Range

Native to New South Wales, Australia, where it grows on sandstone soils in heath and dry sclerophyll woodland in the Sydney region and nearby coastal districts. Found on well-drained, low-nutrient sandy soils from near sea level to about 1,600 feet (500 m).

Suggested Uses

Used in native and bird-attracting gardens, on sandy banks, and as an informal screen, spaced 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) apart. Suited to low-phosphorus coastal gardens where nectar-feeding birds are wanted. Grows in containers of at least 5 gallons (19 L) with a low-phosphorus, free-draining mix.

How to Identify

Recognized by clusters of red spider-like flowers 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) across with long curved styles, borne at the stem tips. Leaves are oval to elliptic, 0.8-2 inches (2-5 cm) long, dark green above and densely hairy beneath. The combination of red flower clusters and hairy leaf undersides separates it from many other Grevillea spp. species.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 7'

Width/Spread3' - 6'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~24 weeks

Fall Winter Spring

Flowers over much of the year, with the heaviest bloom from late autumn through spring, roughly May to October in its native range. Individual flower clusters last several weeks. Scattered flowers can appear in any month in mild conditions.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-9 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to light shade in sandy, sharply drained, low-phosphorus soil. Water during establishment; established plants tolerate dry periods but decline in wet, heavy ground. Phosphorus-rich fertilizers damage the roots, so only low-phosphorus or native-plant feeds are used. It tolerates light pruning and regrows from leafy stems. Plants are short-lived, often replaced after 6-10 years. Root rot from Phytophthora spp. develops in poorly drained sites.

Pruning

Tip-prune from a young age and trim lightly after the main flush of flowering to keep a dense habit. The shrub tolerates removal of up to one-third of the leafy growth but reshoots poorly from bare old wood. Remove dead or damaged stems as they appear.

Pruning Schedule

spring