Grevillea ‘Coastal Glow’ is a medium, spreading shrub that can reach 4 metres tall by 3 metres wide.
Grevillea ‘Coastal Glow’ is a hybrid whose parents are said to be either G. barklyana or G. macleayana and either G. asplenifolia or G. longifolia.
Young growth often has a reddish colour. The oblong leaves are to 20 cm long and 2 cm wide. Some leaves have lobes.
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 is another of the toothbrush-variety, reddish-purple, to 7 cm long.
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 4 cm long; red to red-pink with yellow tips. Perianths are red-pink-grey due to a covering of hairs. Inflorescences are grey in bud.
The flowering period extends from August to February. Blooms are conspicuous, profuse and attract honeyeaters.
A reportedly hardy and attractive cultivar, best grown on well-drained soils in full sun
Light pruning, after flowering, will encourage a dense and controlled plant with more flowers the following season.
Reported to be hardy against salt winds and in tropical and subtropical areas.
Must be propagated from cuttings to retain ‘true to type’ form.
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.
‘Coastal Glow’ – reason for name unknown but perhaps because it grows well in coastal areas and has parentage which includes some coastal species.
Windyridge Nursery – Grevillea ‘Coastal Glow’ profile page. https://www.grevilleas.com.au/grev6.html
Wrigley, J.W. & Fagg, M.I. (2001). Australian Native Plants – Propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping. 4th edition. New Holland Publishers, Pty. Ltd. Australia.