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Grevillea 'Majestic'

(cultivar)

Family: Proteaceae

A shrub that grows to 5 metres high by 3 wide. The cultivar is very similar to G. banksii which is one of the original parents. It is thought this cultivar is a seedling of Grevillea ‘Misty Pink’.

It has deep green, attractive, deeply divided leaves to about 10 centimetres long by 7 centimetres in width with linear segments only 0.3 cm across.

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 mostly produce the inflorescences at the terminals, beyond the foliage, which differs to the closely related Hakea.

This cultivar has a cylindrical raceme, with inflorescences to about 15 centimetres long by 9 centimetres wide. They are pink and cream and very showy.

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 to 40 mm long, cream with yellow tips. The perianths are pink which makes a stunning contrast.

In the garden

A very attractive plant for a garden situation with well-drained soil and full sun.
It is reportedly a very fast growing and hardy shrub. It tolerates a range of soils and can cope without supplementary watering, although plants will flower much more heavily if watered. Can tolerate hard pruning where plants that may be several metres tall can be cut back to about 1 m tall to refresh the plant and provide new dense growth. Works well as a screening plant.

Although not yet recorded, the cultivar is very similar to several cultivars which have been known to cause allergic contact dermatitis for certain individuals who come into contact with it, so caution is advised. Very good cut flower, harvest when the inflorescence is in bud rather than full-flowered. The inflorescences are of a good large size and are produced mainly in winter and spring. Spot flowering at other times. It can flower very heavily, creating a spectacular show.

Propagation

Grevilleas are propagated by three principal methods; seed, cuttings and grafting. To maintain desirable characteristics of a particular plant, vegetative propagation (e.g. cuttings or grafting) must be used. This also applies to propagation of named cultivars.

Other information

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”.

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.

Majestic’ – likely named for the eye-catching flowers.

Gardening with Angus – Grevillea ‘Majestic’ profile page
https://www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/grevillea-majestic-grevillea/

Wrigley, J.W. & Fagg, M.I. (2001). Australian Native Plants – Propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping. 4th edition. New Holland Publishers, Pty. Ltd. Australia.

Windyridge Nursery – Grevillea ‘Majestic’ profile page                      https://www.grevilleas.com.au/grev24.html

By Dan Clarke