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Grevillea 'Kimberley Gold'

(cultivar)

Family: Proteaceae

A stunning open shrub growing to 3 metres tall x 3 metres wide.

It is reported to be a hybrid of G. wickhammii (a species found in WA, NT and Qld) and G. miniata (a species also found in WA and NT).

Leaves are grey-green with a holly-like shape, to about 7 cm long and 4 cm wide, generally ovate in shape with conspicuous and broad lobes/teeth on the margin. The leaves also have a long thin petiole.

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 short cylindrical raceme with inflorescences to about 7 cm long by 3 cm wide. They are bright deep-yellow (contrasting strongly with the foliage) and can be produced profusely standing upright ot laterally above the foliage. Inflorescences are green in bud.

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 25 mm long, deep yellow with darker yellow tips. The perianths are yellow-orange to yellow.

In the garden

A very striking grevillea if plants can be sourced. It is (at least) grown by East Hills members and APS Sutherland Plant Steward, Phil Keane.

Works well as a feature plant, as a stand-alone in a lawn or other landscape, but can also be integrated with other plants. Likes a well-drained sandy soil and there are grafted forms available which are more reliable on the east coast. These can be planted on heavier soils.

Prune off dead flower heads and apply strategic pruning to shape and promote flowering. Can be made more dense with pruning but it is not the most tidy shrub. However, this is outweighed bv the profuse golden inflorescences.

Do not over water. Plant in a sunny position.

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”.

Not a lot of information available online for this one but plenty of images.

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.

‘Kimberley Gold’– named for the colour of the inflorescences and the Kimberley Region in WA where the parents are from.

Plant This – Grevillea ‘Kimberley Gold’ profile page
http://plantthis.com.au/plant-information.asp?gardener=24948&tabview=photos&plantSpot=

Daves Garden – Grevillea ‘Kimberley Gold’ profile page https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/451458/

Australis Plants – Innovative Horticulture – List of Grafted Grevilleas http://www.australisplants.com.au/ornamentals/grafted.htm#k

By Dan Clarke