Grevillea, superb flower shrub

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Needle-thin leaves, so like a conifer’s that the shrub is often taken for a juniper, set off bunches of flowers ranging from pink to yellow: this is grevillea (Grevillea juniperina). Its round, compact habit suits pots, garden boxes and low flowered hedges — give it sun and soil that drains freely, and it asks for almost nothing more.

Planting grevillea

Grevillea is a shrub that doesn’t grow very tall, so it’ll do great in shrub beds and in large containers.

Growing grevillea outside

Grevillea is ideally planted in fall to ensure root growth and thus proper settling in in spring.

However, you can also plant in spring and water a bit more at the beginning.

• It is a shrub that particularly loves sunny locations.
• Part sun also suits it fine, especially if it gets really hot in your area at times.
• Grevillea loves well-drained soil. It doesn’t like it if soil stays moist or soggy for very long. Make sure soil drains well or plant the shrub higher up, as on a mound or raised bed.
• Follow our tips on how to plant a shrub.

Note: there’s no need to fertilize when outside since this shrub is used to growing in poor soil.

Grevillea in pots or garden boxes

Thanks to its small size, grevillea is a shrub that is particularly well suited to growing in pots or garden boxes.

• Try avoiding spots with too much direct sun.
• Use planting soil mix or all-purpose soil mix.
• Pour a bit of gravel or clay pebbles at the bottom to increase drainage.
• Water in summer as soon as the substrate is dry on the first inch or so (a couple centimeters).

In pots, fertilize only once a year with a basic shrub fertilizer (or make your own which is much better).

Care and pruning of grevillea

Caring for grevillea is very easy because it requires practically no care once it has settled in correctly.

Grevillea resists freezing quite well, but is vulnerable to long spells of below-freezing temperatures, when the thermometer drops below 14°F (-10°C).

Pruning grevillea

Grevillea can be pruned without any dire consequence, ideally after the spring blooming.

• You can shape it the way you want or let it retain its own naturally compact shape.
• Recommended is to cut back 1/3rd of each branch after the blooming. This will lead to more branching out and a denser, lusher shrub.

Watering grevillea

This is a shrub that fears excess water, stagnating water, but still it must be watered in case of high temperatures or prolonged dry spells.

Learn more about grevillea

Grevillea is a small shrub that we find particularly appealing for its nice blooming, ranging from pink to yellow and producing nice colored bunches.

Its leaves which are very thin sometimes induce confusion as to whether it might be a conifer, the closest resemblance being juniper, hence the name Grevillea juniperina.

Grevillea has a round, compact shape that makes it a perfect shrub for growing in garden boxes or pots, and also to set up low-lying flowered hedges.

Discover a few Grevillea varieties

The Desert Flame grevillea is a superb grevillea variety that flowers early fall and all winter long. Its leaves resemble those of rosemary.

The Grevillea Pink Pearl has bright pink colors and a darker, deeper-colored foliage.

• Grevillea juniperina, named for its juniper-like foliage, usually bears narrow needle-like leaves tipped with a sharp point, so plant prickly forms well back from paths and seating where people brush past.
• Grevillea flowers are rich in nectar and draw bees and nectar-feeding birds.

Smart tip about grevillea

Grevillea grows slowly, which makes it an ideal shrub for growing in pots or garden boxes, on a terrace, deck or balcony.