Grevillea lanigera Mt Tamboritha form
Common name: Spider flower
This plant is a compact form of Grevillea lanigera which has been widely grown and available in plant nurseries for many years. Interestingly, this plant does not originate from Mt Tamboritha (an 1840-metre-high mountain located on the western edge of the Victorian Alpine National Park). However, while there is a form originating from Mt Tamboritha, it is not readily available.
I have been growing these plants for many years (in my northern Sydney garden) as I find the flowers and foliage attractive. This plant makes an excellent compact ground cover, only growing to about one metre (or less) in diameter and about 20 cm high, in situations with full sun to partial shade in fairly well-drained soils.
Its attractive grey-green foliage is a good colour contrast plant that is shown off to its best if planted in groups of three, or any odd number. For those of you living in areas that receive heavy winter frosts, this plant is frost tolerant to at least –11°C. Overall, a great native plant that should be grown in every garden.
