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Grevillea ‘Apricot Charm’ is a spreading shrub reaching a height of 1.5 metres with a spread of about 2 metres.
It arose as a chance seedling in the gardens of Bywong Nursery. One of the parents may be G. olivacea.
The leaves are about 3 cm long, to about 1 cm wide, dark green and glossy.
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 spider to cylindrical inflorescences, apricot/pink-orange in colour, appearing predominantly in winter to spring. Each inflorescence is pendulous, up to 7 cm long by 4 cm wide or vice versa.
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 perianths are up to 2 cm long; pink-orange.
The carpels are up to 3 cm long, pink-orange in colour.
“Apricot Charm” is another colourful release from Bywong Nursery in southern NSW.
It could be trimmed to create a low formal hedge. Light pruning will create denser plants with more flowers.
Grow in full sun to part-shade on a well-drained soil for best results. It can tolerate heavier soils (clay) and cool tempereatures. The blooms are nectar-rich and attract honeyeaters.
Must be propagated from cuttings to retain “true to form” types.
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 copping 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.
‘Apricot Charm’ – named for the colour of the inflorescences.
Gardening with Angus – Grevillea ‘Apricot Charm’ profile page
https://www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/grevillea-apricot-charm-grevillea/
Gardens Online – Grevillea ‘Apricot Charm’ profile page https://www.gardensonline.com.au/Shopping/GardenShop/Show_7349.aspx