When thinking about creating a bird-attracting garden the first plant variety that comes to mind is the Grevillea.
Some of the most satisfying and enjoyable additions to your garden are those that will attract large numbers of birds. I always believe the Grevilleas are some of the best.
Each week I receive letters and e-mails from all parts of Central Queensland asking for advice on garden design to insect problems to plant selection. Last Monday I received an email from Rhonda of Gracemere asking “what would be the best low Grevilleas to start a bird-attracting garden?”
In fact there are literally hundreds of different Grevillea Hybrids available to the home gardener these days. Ranging in height from groundcovers to trees, there would be a Grevillea to suit your garden needs.
The following are three of my very favourite Grevillea Hybrids that grow below 2.5m that will attract birds to Central Queensland gardens.
Grevillea Peaches and Cream is a small growing shrub similar to Grevillea Robyn Gordon in growth and habit but has soft pink and cream flowers. It requires a sunny, well-drained position and is very attractive and hardy. It attracts honeyeaters and is suitable for use as a low hedge or screen growing to a maximum height of 1.5m.
Grevillea Robyn Gordon is a sprawling evergreen shrub growing to 1.5m with a similar spread. The leaves are dark green fern-like with a silky underside. Masses of crimson birds attracted to the flowers are produced at intervals throughout the year. The name honours David’s daughter Robyn, who sadly passed away at the age of 16 in 1969.
Grevillea Superb is a small growing shrub similar to Grevillea Robyn Gordon in growth and habit but has orangey apricot flowers. It requires a sunny, well-drained position and is very attractive and hardy. It attracts honeyeaters and is suitable for use as a low hedge or screen growing to a maximum height of 1.5m.
The following are some of the Spider or Claw flowering Grevilleas that grow below 2.5m and could become a floral treat in local gardens.
Grevillea Clearview David is an evergreen medium to tall dense shrub with a vigorous growth habit and dark green prickly leaves and bright red flowers during Winter and Spring. It likes an open sunny well-drained position and is frost tolerant. It attracts nectar feeding birds to the garden and can be lightly pruned to shape.
Grevillea Evelyn’s Coronet would be one of the most attractive flowering Grevilleas for Central Queensland gardens. The crown-like flowers heads pink and grey make a unique floral feature. These woolly flowers are massed on the shrub most of the year. Grevillea Evelyn’s Coronet is a dense small shrub growing to 2m high. This shrub’s shape will be enhanced by judicious pruning.
Grevillea Fireworks is one of the hardiest small Grevilleas for exposed conditions. Masses of orange and red spider flowers cover the plant during Winter and Spring. Best suited to well-drained soils, Grevillea Fireworks grows to 1m high by 1m wide.
Grevillea Little Miss Muffert is a medium shrub 2m x 1.5m with narrow dark green leaves. Masses of pink spider-like clusters of flowers are produced most of the year. That will make a stunning display in the garden when this shrub is in flower. It will attract honeyeaters and requires a sunny, well-drained position.
Grevillea oleoides nana is a hardy dwarf shrub with dark green Bottlebrush type foliage. Clusters of red spider-like flowers will appear during Winter and Spring. It is suited to well-drained soils and grows to 75cm high by 1m wide. It is an excellent shrub in hot dry positions and will also tolerate some shade.
While some of these Grevilleas may be a little hard to find in some nurseries, any one of them would make a truly worthy addition to your garden, particularly if you want to attract more birds.
IMPORTANT TIPS FOR GROWING GREVILLEAS
In their natural state, Grevilleas grow in very dry areas, so in the home garden, they do require a sunny well-drained position.
If you have heavy soil in your yard, you may need to build the garden beds up.
Ideally, raised garden beds for Grevilleas should be a minimum of 300mm above the existing soil.
You can plant Grevilleas throughout the year, from the coldest of winter days to the severe heat of summer.
When planting your Grevilleas, always remember that Grevilleas will not tolerate fertiliser that is high in phosphorus.
I always recommend using a mixture of Native Plant Osmocote and organic Blood and Bone as the best establishing fertiliser.
Grevilleas, like most native plants, require good mulching and only sparingly watered.
