Grevilleas are tropical or sub-tropical shrubs native to Australia, but most can be grown successfully in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 through 11.
Some cultivars can even be grown in zones 7 and 8. Also known as spider flowers, toothbrush plants and spiny oak, these evergreen shrubs produce a host of exotic looking flowers in the spring.
Colors range from yellow to shades of orange and red. Foliage varies from fine needle-like leaves to broadleaf varieties of light to medium green.
‘Long John’ (Grevillea sp.)
‘Long John’ produces clusters of coral blooms on upright branches throughout the year. Foliage features strap-like leaves in medium green. This attractive shrub has a mounding habit and reaches heights of 8 to 10 feet with a spread to match. It prefers acidic, well-drained soil and thrives in full sun. ‘Long John’ should be pruned after blooming to maintain its shape. It performs best in zone 10.
‘Superb’ (Grevillea sp.)
‘Superb’ produces an abundance of large orange blooms with yellow accents. This variety blooms all summer attracting bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and even orioles. This fast-growing shrub prefers neutral to acidic soil in full sun or partial shade. It grows to heights of 5 feet with a spread that is slightly larger. It thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 through 11.
‘Moonlight’ (Grevillea sp.)
‘Moonlight’ produces showy cream-colored blooms against leathery needle-like foliage in medium green. This upright shrub reaches heights of 5 to 6 feet with an equal spread. It blooms in winter with repeated blooming throughout the year. ‘Moonlight’ thrives in average well-drained soil in a sunny or partially sunny location. It is cold hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit and does best in USDA plant hardiness zones 9b to 10b.
‘Peaches and Cream’ (Grevillea sp.)
‘Peaches and Cream’ is a showy shrub that produces two-toned blooms in peach and cream in the summer. Foliage is medium green with needle-like leaves. It prefers full sun and is drought tolerant. It grows to heights of 5 to 6 feet with a matching spread. Plant ‘Peaches and Cream’ in USDA plant hardiness zone 9 for best results.
‘Rosemary’ (Grevillea ‘rosmarinifolia’)
‘Rosemary’ earns its name from the delicate medium to light green foliage that resembles the foliage of Rosemary. It produces deep pink or red spider-like flowers that bloom in dense clusters at the tips of branches. Blooming begins in late winter and lasts through mid to late summer. It grows to a height and width of 5 to 8 feet and prefers acidic well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. It is hardy to USDA plant hardiness zone 8.
‘Gold Cluster’ (Grevillea ‘juniperina’)
‘Gold Cluster’ is an excellent choice as a ground cover as this impressive shrub remains a mere foot tall with a spread of nearly 6 feet. This shrub grows quickly and chokes out weeds, making it ideal for garden beds. It prefers full to partial shade and will tolerate a range of soils. Gold clusters of flowers appear repeatedly throughout the summer. Foliage is evergreen and needle-like. ‘Gold Cluster’ is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 11.
‘Robyn Gordon’ (Grevillea sp.)
’Robyn Gordon’ is a bushy, evergreen shrub with deeply lobed leaves in medium to light green. It produces an abundance of red blooms throughout the year. This variety grows to heights of 4 to 6 feet with a similar spread. It prefers full to partial sun and neutral to acidic well-drained soil. Hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, ‘Robyn Gordon’ thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 through 11.
‘Coastal Gems’ (Grevillea lanigera)
‘Coastal Gems’ is prized for gently arching gray-green foliage and abundance of pink and cream blooms in winter to late spring. This tiny shrub reaches heights of a mere 12 inches but spreads to cover 4 feet or more. It prefers full sun and thrives in neutral to slightly acidic soil. ‘Coastal Gems’ thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 10 or 11.
‘Silky Oak’ (Grevillea robusta)
‘Silky Oak’ is the giant of Grevilleas reaching a height of 75 feet with a spread of 30 feet. This evergreen tree sports fern-like leaves that are medium to light green on the top and silvery on the underside. It produces bold clusters of yellowish orange flowers in the spring. It prefers full sun and tolerates nearly any soil type. It can be grown in USDA plant hardiness zones 9b through 11.
Molongolo (Grevillea juniperina)
‘Molongola’ is prized for its low-growing habit making this variety ideal as a ground cover. It grows to a height of 2 feet with a spread of 10 feet and produces showy yellow blooms against needle-like foliage from spring until fall. This variety prefers full sun and well-drained average soil. This hardy variety can be grown in USDA plant hardiness zones 8a through 10b.
