Growing grevilleas

If grevilleas were clothing, they’d be referred to as wardrobe essentials – which is what they are for the garden. They look great all year, suit different landscaping styles and are low-fuss.

They range from groundcovers such as the tenacious ‘Bronze Rambler’, renowned for its ability to spread far and wide (3–5m), to the 1–1.5m tall, heat- and frost–tolerant ‘Deua Gold’, with its apricot flowers, and the 3–5m white plumed grevillea (G. leucopteris) whose creamy cylindrical blooms beckon pollinators from the top of tall stems.

Grevilleas deliver on all fronts. They have low water requirements, respond well to pruning and aren’t overly bothered by pests and diseases. If they’re going to succumb, it’s often to overwatering or being planted in heavy soil.

Their leaves range from broad and leathery to fern- or needle-like. Most flower for months or even all year – hello, ‘Peaches and Cream’! The blooms are nectar-rich and popular with local critters. They all look somewhat similar but there are three types: ‘spider’, which are rounded and relatively small and often found on dense varieties such as G. rosmarinifolia ‘Lutea’; one-sided ‘toothbrush’ types; and ’large flowered’ –also called ‘Queensland’ or ‘tropical’ types. These large-flowered forms are popular with people and birds, but their habit is comparatively open. This means small birds can’t hide safely within them and are often hounded by larger honeyeaters. Plant large- and small-flowered grevilleas to keep everybody safe and well-fed.

Tips for growing grevilleas

• Growing requirements Grevilleas will grow in part-shade (those in sunnier spots will flower better). They need well-drained soil, so do a simple percolation test where you’re planning to plant them to see how quickly the soil drains. If it drains poorly, bring in garden soil and create raised beds at least 30cm high. Dig over the existing soil to a depth of about 20cm, then mix in the new soil, and some compost.
• Fertilising Apply native-specific fertiliser when plants are flowering.
• Pruning Tip-prune by removing 5–8cm from all stems each year for two to three years to shape shrubs, and promote bushy growth on groundcovers. Prune after the main flush of flowers. Many varieties can be rejuvenated by cutting them back to the base, but do some research on your species before getting out the chainsaw.
• Watering For in-ground grevilleas planted in autumn, water new plants weekly for two months, then every fortnight for three to six months, to develop a strong root system.

Some new grevillea varieties and old favourites

GROUNDCOVERS

‘Jelly Baby’ (G. lavandulacea x G. alpina)
With pink-and-cream flowers, this cultivar makes a sweet specimen for a rockery or container. Grow in clay to sandy loam. Suits coastal gardens. Frost-tolerant. Position in full sun or semi-shade. Suitable for subtropical, arid, warm temperate and cold temperate climates.

‘Red Coral’ (G. nivea x G.variifolia)
A beauty with grey-green, ferny foliage, silvery stems and deep red toothbrush flowers. Lovely for covering large areas, sunny embankments and retaining walls. Suits coastal gardens. Position in full sun. Suitable for subtropical, warm temperate and cold temperate climates.

SMALL SHRUBS (up to 1m)

‘Big Foot’ (G. banksii)
Huge (20–30cm) red-orange flowers are the standout feature of this dense, mounding shrub. It is long flowering and tolerates coastal conditions. Position in full sun. Suitable for tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and cold temperate climates.

‘Fireworks’
Bright red-and-yellow spider flowers explode from this dense, upright shrub (below) in autumn and spring. Delightful in mixed beds or pots. Frost-tolerant. Position in full sun or semi-shade. Suitable for subtropical, arid, warm temperate and cold temperate climates.

MEDIUM SHRUBS (1-2m)

‘Pink Profusion’
This compact cultivar has mid-green lobed foliage and masses of candy pink-and-yellow cylindrical flowers year-round. Suitable as a screen or hedge. Frost-tolerant. Position in full sun. Suitable for subtropical, arid, warm temperate and cold temperate climates.

‘Canterbury Gold’ (G. victoriae x G. juniperina ‘Prostrate’)
Dense, spreading shrub with narrow leaves and yellow spider flowers year-round. Good for large areas and coastal locations. Highly frost tolerant. Position in full sun or semi-shade. Suitable for subtropical, warm temperate and cold temperate climates.

LARGE SHRUBS (over 2m)

‘Honey gem’ (G. banksii x G. pteridifolia)
Flowering all year, this cultivar has large orange blooms that contrast beautifully with the fine grey-green foliage. Once mature, it can be under-pruned to form a small tree. Tolerates coastal conditions. Position in full sun. Suitable for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climates.

Golden grevillea (G. aurea)
Tall, open shrub with holly-like leaves and decorative, dangling, yellow-orange-red flowers. It is quick growing and pretty in a mixed bed or as a light screen. Position in full sun. Suitable for tropical and subtropical climates.

Want to learn more about grevilleas? Read AB Bishop’s story on large-flowered grevilleas.

Header image credit: Alamy