General Description:

Grevillea is a genus of around 380 species, most of which are endemic to Australia but a few species occur in Papua New Guinea and islands to Australia’s north. Further information on the botany, propagation and cultivation of grevilleas can be found in our dedicated Grevillea page.

Most grevilleas are small to medium shrubs but some are prostrate and a few can become large trees. Various species hybridise readily and numerous named cultivars are available resulting from either deliberate breeding or chance hybridization.

Grevillea olivacea is a small to large shrub from 1 to 4 metres high, usually of upright growth habit.  The leaves are elliptical to oval shaped, between 3 and 7 cm long and up to 3 cm wide.  They are glabrous on the upper surface and silky hairy underneath.  The flowers occur in clusters from at the ends of branchlets or sometimes from leaf axils. The clusters are usually pink to bright red but pale yellow and apricot forms are known.  They are very conspicuously displayed. Flowering occurs mainly from winter through to spring.

This is a very ornamental garden plant and well known in cultivation. It has proven to be hardy under a range of climatic conditions and soils but may struggle in sub-tropical and tropical areas.  It prefers a sunny, well drained position.  It can tolerate at least moderate frosts, responds well to pruning and attracts honey-eating birds.

There are several known grevillea cultivars which are purported to be hybrids of G.olivacea, including ‘Flora Mason’, ‘Sea Spray’ and the widely cultivated ‘Winparra Gold’ and ‘Winparra Gem’.

The species can be grown from seed which should be “nicked” with a sharp knife prior to sowing to improve germination. Cuttings from firm, current season’s growth usually strike reliably. Propagation of named cultivars must be propagated by cuttings to remain true to form.

* EPBC Act = Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999;
ROTAP = Rare or Threatened Australian Plants (Briggs and Leigh, 1988)
For further information refer the Australian Plants at Risk page