Grevillea treueriana

Family: Proteaceae
Distribution: Restricted to rocky crevices on Mt Finke in South Australia
Common Name: No generally accepted common name
Conservation Status: Listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act* (ie. facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future, as determined in accordance with prescribed criteria). Classified as 2E under the ROTAP* system
Derivation of Name: Grevillea…after Charles Francis Greville, co-founder of the Royal Horticultural Society
treueriana… After A. de Treuer, German Consul to Australia in the 19th century

General Description:

Grevillea treueriana is a small shrub of open habit to 1-1.5 metres high by a similar width. Leaves are 25-30 mm long with recurved margins. They are deeply divided into stiff, linear lobes with sharp, pungent points. The “toothbrush”-shaped flower clusters are bright orange red and tend to hang downwards from the ends of the branches. Flowering occurs in winter though to spring.

This species has not been widely cultivated but is now becoming more readily available through specialist native plant nurseries. It is best suited to areas with a dry summer climate and it may prove more difficult in humid, wet summer districts such as coastal New South Wales and Queensland. In those areas grafting onto a hardy rootstock may be necessary for long term growth. It should be grown in a warm, sunny location in well drained soils. It is tolerent of at least moderate frosts. Like most grevilleas, the flowers attract honey-eating birds.

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 can be slow to strike and success is improved by using a root promoting hormone. The species has been successfully grafted to hardy root stocks such as G.robusta and G.”Poorinda Royal Mantle”.