Grevillea 'Canberra Gem' – A medium to large dense shrub to 6 to 8 ft. tall with an equal spread that has stiff arching branches crowded with deep green inch long needle-like leaves. The showy clusters of rose red spidery flowers form along the branches in late winter into spring and often with a few flowers at other times.
Plant in full sun in relatively well-drained soil with little to no irrigation required in our coastal gardens. Cold hardy to 15°F. This is a tough adaptable shrub that tolerates dry situations or irrigated garden conditions. A great barrier plant!
Grevillea 'Canberra Gem' is an older hybrid that has been in California for many years. It was the result of crossing Grevillea juniperina with Grevillea rosmarinifolia in the early 1960's by Mr P Moore, then Chief Nurseryman at Yarralumla Government Nursery near Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. The cultivar name was submitted for registration by the Australian Cultivar Registration Authority in 1963 and it was registered in 1976. It was noted in Peter Olde and Neal Marriot's 3 volume The Grevillea Book as being a good plant for wet winter areas. It grows well for us in southern and central California coast and those along the coast of Oregon can attest to how successfully this plant grows there. This plant has occasionally been referred to as 'Pink Pearl' and 'Poorinda Canberra Gem' but its correctly registered name remains 'Canberra Gem'.
The information about Grevillea 'Canberra Gem' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |