Menu
A small shrub that grows to 1 metre tall x 1 metre wide.
It is a hybrid but the parentage is unknown for the purposes of this profile. It resembles the G. lanigera-group of cultivars.
The stems have a coating of white hairs.
Leaves are mid green, narrow and stiff, linear in shape, to about 3 cm long by 0.5 cm wide, with a small pungent tip (mucro), and grey-green in colour.
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 a form of one of the spider-flowers, with inflorescences to about 3 cm long and wide. They are bright pink and white and can be produced profusely, over most of the year.
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 species, the carpels are to 30 mm long, bright mid-pink with pink tips. The perianths are a mixture of white and pink.
This is a relatively new cultivar but is popular.
It is very suitable for rockeries, small gardens and containers but it can spread to 1 metre or more wide, so allow some room to spread.
Pruned lightly into rounded shape which will promote flowering and bring out its best display.
It can cope without supplementary watering, although plants will flower much more heavily if watered. Likes a well-drained soil to do well.
It can flower very heavily, creating a spectacular show (albeit on a small shrub), and is great for attracting birds.
Plant at the front edges of gardens for best effect.
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.
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 is a diverse genus of about 365 species with about 357 occurring in Australia. Some species occur in New Caledonia, Indonesia and New Guinea. NSW currently has about 85 species although with a lot of subspecies and some informal taxa recognised.
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.
‘Strawberry Smoothie’ – named for the pink and white inflorescences.
Daves Garden – Grevillea ‘Strawberry Smoothie’ profile page https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/477158/#b
The Tutu Guru – Grevillea ‘Strawberry Smoothie’ sales page https://www.thetutuguru.com.au/shop/grevillea-strawberry-smoothie-8-pot/