|
|
Grevilleas
I have just had the pleasure of laying out a large hillside in a local coastal garden. What made it so pleasurable was the brief I was given. The owners wanted quick, bushy and colourful. I could hear Tuis chortling in an avenue of Mature Macrocarpa trees lining their driveway and noticed the Tuis darting between the branches of an adjacent grove of Coastal Banksia trees. That settled it for me. I was going to give my clients a bird food environment.
A big part of this planting included the large and very diverse Grevillea family.
Grevilleas are Australian members of the Protea family. New Zealand has a couple of Protea members, the most commonly grown is the Rewa Rewa. This bears large spidery flowers, very similar to Grevilleas.
Within the Grevillea family you can choose ground covers, wall spillers ,dwarf bushes, large bushes that will train into hedges weeping shrubs and even tall trees. Many cope in frosty areas and all will tolerate strong winds and drought . Grevilleas are very rewarding garden plants as they are quick to grow and most will commence flowering straight away. By carefully choosing varieties one may have a garden devoted to them and enjoy a profusion of flowers all year round.
The flowers are spidery and may be small and delicately dangle from stems, or large and bold and tooth brushy or held in clusters. The flower colour range includes all but blue. Nectar seeking birds love the flowers and the larger growing bushes are favoured for nesting.
Grevilleas remain reliable garden plants for years just getting bigger. Their natural bushy shape means you don’t need to trim them regulary to stop them becoming leggy. But left unrestrained they will grow over any close neighbours.
The larger flowered varieties make lovely cut flowers and a few of the larger bushes produce stems of leaves that are commercially used in the cut flower industry.
Although there are around 200 different varieties I am only listing the easily attainable varieties grown today and only a few in each section as to cover the lot would require the writing of a book.
Ground covers.
Grevillea fasiculata Bright orange flowers for most of the year but particulary through winter. Compact enough for the rock garden or for spilling over a wall
Grevillea Gaudi Chaudi
Attractive oak like leaves are a bronzy red. Wine red tooth brush flowers through spring and summer. Spreads 3ms
Grevillea Bronze Rambler A vigorous ground cover which will spread up to 3ms. Grows in both clay and sand. Bronzy red new shoots. Red tooth brush flowers for most of the year.
Dwarf Shrubs
Grevillea Mt Tambourine
A profusion of pink and cream flowers through winter and spring. Woolly grey leaves are a characteristic feature of this plant. Excellent as a small spreading border. 20 cms high and spreads 1m.
Grevillea Pink Pixie
Dense needle like leaves .Bright candy pink and white flowers through winter and spring. 60cms
Grevillea Bonnie Prince Charles
Dark green leaves. Brightly coloured flowers are a blend of orange, red and yellow.Blooms from mid winter through to summer. 30 cms
Grevillea Red Cloud
Silvery grey leaves. Deep red flowers smother this small bush through winter and spring. 1m.
Grevillea Red Cluster
A semi spreading bushy grower .Glossy green leaves turn bronze through winter. Deep red flowers smother the bush through winter and spring.
Medium growing shrubs
Grevillea Goldrush
Rich green leaves on a compact bush. Bright yellow flowers with a red streak over a long period from early winter. 1.5ms
Grevillea Tranquility
Soft green leaves on a very bushy shrub. Pale pink flowers are tipped cream. A nice contrast to use with the brighter coloured varieties. 1.5ms
Grevillea Rondeau
A compact bush with shiny reddish leaves. Bright pale red flowers through winter and spring. 1.3ms
Grevillea Scarlet Sprite
A spreading shrub with dark green narrow leaves. One of the brightest coloured varieties with brilliant red flowers from winter to early summer. 1.3ms
Grevillea Robyn Gordon
An outstanding cultivar with handsome leaves and a profusion of large light red flowers all year round. Will grow in semi shade and prefers moisture through dry periods. Tolerates only the occasional light frost. 1.5ms
Large Bushes
Grevillea poorinda Peter
A vigorous grower. Open spreading habit. Burgandy red new shoots. Purplish red toothbrush type flowers from spring to summer .Excellent cut flower. 2.5ms
Grevillea Robin Hood
A bushy wide spreading grower. Scarlet flowers in profusion for most of year but particulary through summer. 3ms
Hedging subjects
Grevillea Barklyana
Large deep green leaves have a silvery reverse and stems are popular with florists as a backing material. Large deep pink tooth brush flowers from late winter through spring. 3ms.
Grevillea Elegance
Glossy green leaves on a bushy shrub. Bi-coloured flowers are apricot with a red streak produced from spring through to autumn. Prune once a year in spring to keep a hedge shape and attain the maximum flowering. 2ms
Weeping
Grevillea glabrata
Light green leaves on willowy weeping branches. From winter through to summer the bush is smothered with delicate looking spidery white flowers.2ms
Grevillea Boongala Spinebill
A bushy shrub with a semi weeping habit, branches often weeping to the ground.Large crimson red tooth brush flowers are produced all year round. 2ms
Trees
Grevillea Robusta
Handsome fern like leaves cover this robust growing tree. An upright pyramidal form. Trees only flower when mature but well worth waiting for as such a glorious show of large golden orange flowers from early spring. 8ms
|
|
|
|