Grevillea Collection

The genus Grevillea currently holds around 377 species and sub-species with new species being discovered and named regularly and it is the third most numerous of Australian plant genera. Most species are endemic to Australia but there a few species extending to islands to the North of Australia. Only the genera Acacia (approx. 1000 sp.) and Eucalyptus (approx. 900 sp.) hold more species than Grevillea.
Grevillea is a member of the Protea family and its close relatives include Banksia, Hakea, Isopogon and Telopea (the Waratah).

Grevillea is probably the most popular and widely cultivated of all of Australia’s plant genera. Many gardeners find the variety of bird attracting flowers and foliage, the different types of growth habit and, in some cases, the long flowering periods means there is a Grevillea for almost every garden situation. Most are hardy and drought resistant and love full sun. Maintenance consists mainly of frequent tip pruning, often done after flowering is finished but could be done anytime. Mulching is beneficial to help plants through the hot months, but watering is seldom necessary after the plants are established. There are also many of the more difficult to grow Grevilleas now being offered as grafted plants which extends the life of the plants and enables gardeners to grow a greater variety of species.

The Grevillea Garden at the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens (HRBG) holds plants from all over Australia, including local endemics and plants from other localities, for example Grevillea gillivrayii from New Caledonia. 

Within the genus there are many rare and threatened species, some among the rarest plants in Australia. Some have populations as low as 6 or so plants. Many of these species are being propagated and grown in botanic gardens and private collections and HRBG participates in this endeavour. Some local Grevilleas fall into this category and these are being propagated and grown at HRBG. More species are being added constantly to enable HRBG to display as wide a variety of Grevillea to the public as possible.

There are many references available that give information regarding individual species, their botany and cultivation. A list of references that will enable gardeners to acquire more knowledge about this iconic Australian genus is provided below and a visit to the Grevillea Theme Garden at HRBG would also enable more understanding of the genus.

In the accompanying images those Grevilleas that are being grown or have been grown in the Theme Garden have the letters HRBG somewhere on the image. The majority of the remaining images have been photographed in their natural environment or other botanic gardens and private gardens. 

All images are by Kevin Stokes