A pretty shrub for a protected location. Compact growing evergreen shrub with medium green needle-like foliage. To 2′ x 4′ in 5 years. Nearly year round-but peaking in spring, copious light pink curly flowers are loved by hummers. Protected location in virgin, un-improved soil. Drought adapted when established. Excellent on a hot south facing slope- avoid crowding by other plants or an exposed cold site. Its possible that this is a hybrid and not pure G. juniperina. However, there is so much variability in this species that we are unsure. Extremely drought tolerant but it seems to grow faster and bloom more profusely with light water in summer. This plant is great at the Oregon coast where it is in nearly full bloom year round. It has survived undamaged in my garden for 9 years and has endured temperatures to 10ºF undamaged. It could be much hardier (when established). Limited qualities.
Genus: Grevillea
Grevillea australis
Alpine Grevillea is a cold hardy, handsome, evergreen shrub that is good looking at all times. In late winter/early spring flossy white flowers explode over the bush and emit an intense honey fragrance. Each small leaf is olive/ochre green on the surface and silver below. Dense, fine textured very rounded compact shrub to 4′ tall and 5′ wide in 5 years. Maxes out at that height but continues to gain width. Avoid enriched, over-improved soil. Best in unimproved native or even poor soils with sharp drainage. Little water ever once established. Cold hardiest Grevillea taking temperatures to just near 0ºF with no problem. Tolerates subfreezing wind as well as ice and snow. Easy to grow if left strictly alone. It may be pruned in spring to limit the size- prune tips. Very good landscaping plant. The powerful honey fragrance of the flowers is detectable for quite a distance on warm days. But for this it would make a good cut flower- fragrance is a little too strong. Cut branches last for several weeks in a vase and foliage is handsome. Takes very well to pruning. Good deer resistance. Video below is of a plant in full bloom. Takes a moment for the video to load. Not tolerant of shade at all. Hates it. Revels in full hot sun. Limited quantities.
Grevillea x ‘Leanne’
Handsome evergreen shrub that displays masses of gold/old gold spidery flowers nearly year round- peaking in late winter into spring. Clean paddle shaped leaves are olive green on top and silver gray on the underside- a great combination with the flower color. Dense growing to 4′ x 6′ in full sun and poor to average well drained soil. Little summer water when established- extraordinarily drought tolerant. Loved by hummingbirds. One of the easiest to grow and fairly spectacular in full winter bloom. Excellent everblooming shrub for slopes, dry hillsides, low water areas. Avoid compost, nutrients. Tip prune if growth is too fast or rank and endangers the plant from rocking. ‘Leanne’ thrives on our own unimproved native soils. Full sun to very light shade and neglect. Excellent cold hardiness. Hybrid between G. victorae and G. juniperina. Avoid summer water which can leave it susceptible to phytophthera. It can tolerate ANY amount of extreme drought with no problem. Nice mounding habit for hot hell strips. Mixes well with Arctostaphylos, other drought adapted shrubs. Gains cold hardiness with age- establishment. Excellent garden shrub. At one point this and many other hybrids were known for the ranch, Poorinda where they were discovered/bred. That first moniker has been dropped in all of the varieties (Save for x ‘Poorinda Queen’- which, well. Cuz.) So, this is just Grevillea x ‘Leanne’ now. Why they made this change I do not know. Crazy Australians.
Grevillea x ‘Neil Bell’
A chance seedling in Neil Bell’s Monmouth, Oregon garden has yielded one of the finest Grevilleas that we can grow. Neil graciously shared cuttings of this seedling to us. It then bloomed and turned out to be a fantastic shrub and we named it after Neil. Large evergreen shrub with dapper paddle shaped leaves olive green on top and gray underneath. Year round spidery pendant tomato red flowers appear- waxing and waning with the weather- they favor cooler weather. Fast growing and completely drought adapted. Water to establish then none in subsequent years. Takes well to tip pruning. Well drained average to poor soils that have NOT been improved. Adaptable to clay especially on slopes. Loved by hummingbirds and predominantly staked out in winter by Anna’s who recognize it as a superior food source. It has been cold hardy to 5ºF planted in the ground suffering no damage. 8′ x 8′. Cold adapted Grevilleas have flower buds insulated with fine fine hairs- this protects them from the coldest temperatures. Open flowers may be damaged by lows colder than 23ºF but new, protected flower buds will open in the next thaw so the display resumes quickly. Prune in early summer- this produces a denser shrub and will spur it to into bloom. Grevilleas may have as much as 1/3 of their mass removed annually and will regrow rapidly. This can be useful for shrubs that have grown too fast or rank and need to be stabilized by resizing. Cut branches with flowers last in a vase in winter and its a great time to have vibrant cut flowers. Do not water during very hot weather- it is adapted to the most desiccating heat and dry with no ill effects. Fantastic shrub. Protected location. Flower buds do not abort in hot dry weather.
Xera Plants Introduction.
Grevillea miqueliana var. moroka
Round leaf Grevillea is a great hardy species from the highest elevations in the mountains of SE Australia. Handsome wavy round evergreen leaves frame showy pendant flower clusters from January to June. The sunset colored flowers feature orange/yellow/pink in various incarnations depending on the temperatures. Loved by over wintering Anna’s hummingbirds. Any reasonably well drained soil that has NOT been amended. Native soils are perfect, and tolerant of clay as well as sand. Great on slopes. Fast, large growing to 8′ x 8′ in 6 years. Sporadic flowers appear year round. Avoid fertilizers. One of the best climate adapted Grevilleas that we have grown. Grows very fast with little water. Full sun and a hot position. Listed as endangered/threatened in Australia where it occupies just a half dozen sites in the high mountains. Extra reason to grow this fabulous multidimensional shrub that is good looking year round and blooms for a long, long period. Light summer water is best as infrequent deep soaks when it is not hot. This shrub gains cold hardiness with establishment. Excellent sited where its roots can find protection and a cool respite. Large boulders, even pavers will help create this. A very rare Grevillea that is truly alpine in nature.
Grevillea victoriae ‘UBC Form’
Royal Grevillea is one of the most handsome shrubs that we can grow in our climate. Native to the highest elevation in Australia and then down to the middle elevations this species has been grown in our climate successfully for many decades. Large, long gray foliage is handsome year round and a great backdrop to the masses of orange pendulous flowers which are most prolific during winter. Loved by hummingbirds – Anna’s will stake out this shrub as one of the few sources of nectar during winter. Full sun to light shade in average soil with light, consistent water to establish. Avoid baking hot locations as this plant forms and sets its flower buds in late spring and summer and they hold until the cool of autumn arrives to open. If this plant becomes too hot or stressed it can abort these flower buds diminishing the following seasons display. So, an average position away from reflected heat produces the best blooming. Very good performance in cold rural gardens, enduring 5ºF with no issue. Very large growing to 12′ x 12′ and sometimes larger with time. May be pruned hard in early spring to both limit the overall size but to increase density and blooming wood. Great performance at the Oregon coast and in Puget Sound as well as the coast range and Cascade foothills. In the Willamette Valley the hybrids ‘Neil Bell’, ‘Octopinky’, ‘Poorinda Queen’ and the species G. Juniperina do not abort their flower buds in the hottest weather- and seem to perform more satisfactorily. Moderately deer resistant. Long lived. This form is from the University of British Columbia.