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Grevillea ‘Bedspread’ is a dense groundcovering shrub, with a spread of at least 2 metres wide, reaching a height of 0.4 metres tall.
Grevillea ‘Bedspread’ is a hybrid whose parents are said to be G. ‘Royal Mantle’ and G. wilkinsonii, a rare species from southern NSW.
Dark green leaves are 10 cm long by 5 cm wide, and have lobed triangular margins (pinnatifid).
A grevillea inflorescence is technically a cluster of paired flowers, termed a conflorescence with the overall structure forming a raceme-like appearance. Grevillea species exhibit 3 main inflorescence structures:
1. A cylindrical to ovoid raceme (with flowers emerging around a 360° radius)
2. A single-sided raceme (with flowers produced on only one side, resembling a tooth-brush)
3. A condensed or clustered raceme (usually as long as it is wide, with species referred to as the “spider-flowers”)
Grevillea produce the inflorescences at the terminals, beyond the foliage, which differs to the closely related Hakea.
This cultivar is of the toothbrush variety. The inflorescences are dark red to metallic pink, to about 8 cm long by 2 cm wide, and appear from spring to autumn. They are rich in nectar and attract honeyeaters.
Individual flowers are composed of 1 carpel (female part) where the style and stigma protrude out; 4 stamens hidden away in the perianth; and the perianth (petals and sepals collectively) which connects to a pedicel. Proteaceae flowers do not have any discernible petals or sepals (having only one whorl) and so these are referred to as “tepals” of which there are 4.
In this cultivar, the carpels are red-pink, to about 25 mm long. The perianths are also red-pink and about 10 mm long.
Grevillea ‘Bedspread’ could be grown under other plants as colourful living mulch or allowed to spill over walls and embankments.
Tip prune to maintain foliage density.
All cultivars must be propagated by cuttings to maintain ‘true-to-type’ forms.
Grevillea ‘Bedspread’ is grown on embankments around Parliament House in Canberra.
This free-flowering ground cover is similar in appearance to G. ‘Fanfare’, G. ‘Royal Mantle’ and G. gaudichaudii.
Grevillea is a diverse genus of about 360 species of evergreen flowering plants native to rainforest and more open habitats in Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Sulawesi and other Indonesian islands east of the Wallace Line. NSW currently has about 85 species although with a lot of subspecies and some informal taxa recognised.
Grevillea flowers were a traditional favourite among First Nations Peoples for their sweet nectar. This could be shaken onto the hand to enjoy, or into a coolamon with a little water to make a sweet drink. They might be referred to as the original “bush lollies”.
Most Grevillea species will regenerate from seed after fire but can produce coppicing shoots.
Grevillea – was named in honour of Charles Francis Greville (1749-1809), an 18th-century patron of botany and co-founder of the Royal Horticultural Society. He was also a British antiquarian, collector and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1774 to 1790.
‘Bedspread’ – named for the groundcovering habit of this cultivar.
Gardening with Angus – Grevillea ‘Bedspread’ profile page https://www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/grevillea-bedspread-grevillea/