My Glorious Grevillea

My Grevillea juniperina has been one of my favourite plants since I bought it, but after it's heroic effort this winter it is my favourite plant at the moment. It has bloomed non-stop since November. Not just bloomed, but bloomed well!




I've not really made it easy for it - this photo is taken from its north facing side....................


As you can see, although it's in the courtyard it's up high and rather exposed. But wherever you look on it there are blooms or new buds coming.................



They may only be small blooms, but I love them!


As you may have gathered, I'm totally made up with this Australian native plant!

 

Great plant Longk.
I had a "Canberra gem" for years, darker flower colour.

 

I had one and loved it but it died on me here ...



PS Just saw Pete's response, I think mine was the Canberra Gem.

 

That's one that I'll be looking out for Pete and Victoria.

Anyone got any tips on taking cuttings?

 

I planted a G Camebera Gem last Spring, it is now about 3" high and covered in developing buds. Our local hardware store always has shrubs and other plants for sale and I noticed two G Juniperina (in flower) there. I am tempted but where I am thinking of planting one would perhaps be too exposed and prone to a lot of frost. The plants are barely1ft high, what is the max height? I want something 2ft plus.

 

3" or 3'?

If you look at the third photo mine is fully exposed too. Taken minus five to seven this winter with the pot frozen solid.

It has a very lax habit, so maybe not what you're after.

 

3" no 3ft (typo) I looked at the lGrevillea again outside the store today and realised it was not Juniperina but Rosemarinifolia 'Jenkinsii'. This one is supposed to need a sheltered site and where I am thinking of planting it is not, so I'm holding fire on iit at the moment.

 

I used to take Canberra gem cuttings quite often, they always took quite easily, you know the type, when I say semi-ripe in July.
Rooted in sand and peat mix, in the open, (no propagator), but a shady position.

I also had a bush of G. sulphurea, but that always looked a mess, seemed hardy enough, but always straggly.
Could never get cuttings of that to root.

 

I did get one (of four) Sulphurea cuttings to root years ago Pete, I kept it at work for couple of years and it got nicked with a few other plants .I think someone mistook it for a conifer as it had that appearance.

 

They must have been a bit disappointed when it just grew yellow flowers.

 

I recently got my hands on three Desfontaina spinosa at a good price. I gave one to my sister for her birthday - the look on her face was one of "what do I want with a Holly?". I kept it up for an hour before I googled it and showed her what she could end up with

 

I remember someone thinking Berberis Darwinii was a small leaved Holly untill I showed the one in flower

 

I had Desfontainea, it just kind of lingered with me for about five years, and then gave up the ghost.

 

That's the wrong thing to say!
As there is conflicting advice on this (some say acidic soil, although all describe it as lime hating) I'll grow one on in erricacious soil to see if there is any difference.

 

I grew mine with a couple of camellias and a rhodo.
They are still there.
Its not the sunniest of positions, and I wonder if that might have something to do with it.