Greetings, fellow sun-worshippers and nectar-lovers. We are the Grevilleas, a diverse clan from the ancient landscapes of Australia. While our origins are far away, we have found welcoming homes in many American gardens, particularly in the sun-drenched, well-drained soils of California and the Southwest. We offer you not just stunning, intricate flowers that are a magnet for your hummingbirds and bees, but also resilient, evergreen foliage that provides year-round structure. For those of you seeking water-wise and wildlife-friendly plants, we are an excellent choice. Let us introduce you to some of our most garden-worthy members.
I am perhaps the most celebrated of the cultivated grevilleas, and for good reason. I am a compact, sprawling shrub, typically staying under 6 feet tall and wide, making me perfect for borders or as a feature plant. My main attraction is my prolific blooming habit; I produce my stunning, coral-pink and rose-red spider-like flowers in cycles throughout the entire year, with no distinct off-season. My dense, deeply divided foliage is an attractive deep green. I am remarkably adaptable, tolerating a range of soils as long as they are well-drained, and I am highly resistant to drought once my roots are established. Please ensure I have excellent drainage, as my roots are sensitive to waterlogged conditions.
If you seek a more formal, tidy appearance, look to my variety. I am an upright, dense shrub, growing to about 6 feet tall and wide, with needle-like foliage that bears a striking resemblance to the rosemary herb. This fine-textured, aromatic foliage provides a beautiful backdrop for the clusters of spidery flowers that appear primarily in spring and sporadically at other times. The blooms are typically a vibrant red, though some cultivars offer pink hues. I am exceptionally hardy, tolerating temperatures down to around 15°F, and I thrive in full sun with little water. I am ideal for hedges, screening, or as a structural element in a dry garden.
For those who desire a grander specimen, I am the one. I am a large, open, and airy shrub that can reach heights and spreads of 10-12 feet or more. My charm lies in my spectacular, 6-inch long clusters of coral-pink flowers, which are a breathtaking sight from late winter through spring. My foliage is fine and fern-like, creating a soft, graceful appearance. I am a fast-grower and make an excellent privacy screen or a dramatic background plant. Like my cousins, I demand full sun and perfect drainage. Give me plenty of space to show off my elegant, weeping form.
For the smaller spaces, rockeries, or cascading over walls, I am your perfect candidate. I am a low-growing, prostrate shrub, forming a dense mat that rarely exceeds 1-2 feet in height but can spread several feet wide. My small, gray-green leaves are soft to the touch, and I produce small but charming clusters of pink and cream flowers off and on throughout the year. I am incredibly tough, handling coastal winds, light frosts, and severe drought with ease. I am also one of the most tolerant grevilleas of occasional poor drainage. Plant me as a groundcover that will suppress weeds and add constant texture and color.
I bring a touch of rugged, mountain hardiness to the collection. Native to the alpine regions of Australia, I am a large, rounded shrub that can grow to 8-10 feet. My oval leaves are a handsome gray-green on top with a soft, silvery-white underside, creating a lovely two-toned effect in the breeze. My flower clusters are a brilliant fiery orange-red, and they are a vital food source for hummingbirds during the cooler months when I bloom. I am one of the most cold-tolerant grevilleas, capable of withstanding temperatures down to 10-15°F, making me a great choice for gardeners in cooler parts of USDA zones 8 and 9.
