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Grevillea ‘Winpara Gem’ is a hybrid whose parents are said to be two Western Australian species; namely G. thelemanniana and either G. argyrophylla or G. olivacea.
Grevillea ‘Winpara Gem’ appeared in a garden on the Winpara property, in South Australia, and was registered in 1984.
It grows into a dense shrub reaching a height of 2 metres by 2 metres wide.
Grey-green leaves are about six centimetres long, lobed with four or five segments.
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 mostly spider-like raceme, with inflorescences to about 4 cm long by 8 cm wide. They are red with tinges of pink – aging to orange, and can be produced profusely, mainly from autumn to spring.
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, metallic pink to red, with yellow tips. The perianths are red / pink-red, again to orange. Buds are pink. The blooms are held in large racemes and appear on older wood.
Grevillea ‘Winpara Gold’ is similar in all respects except that the flowers are pale golden in colour. It is just as hardy and colourful as G. ‘Winpara Gold’.
Author’s notes:
Grevillea ‘Winpara Gem’ would make a colourful and bird attracting screening and hedge plant.
Honeyeaters are partial to the nectar-filled flowers. The blooms are an outstanding feature of this hybrid with their size and unusual colour.
We have many specimens in our cold climate garden. Some are over ten years old.
This plant does best on a well-draining soil in full sun. Very hardy once established.
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.
‘Winpara Gem’- named after the property in South Australia where it originated.
Australian National Botanic Gardens – Australian Cultivar Registration Authority – Grevillea ‘Winpara Gem’ profile page https://www.anbg.gov.au/acra/descriptions/acc340.html
Austraflora – Grevillea ‘Winpara Gem’ profile page https://austraflora.com/project/grevillea-winpara-gem/