The pretty prickly Grevillea acanthifolia

, , , ,

There aren’t really enough spikey Grevilleas in my opinion, when it comes to planting for birds and to create habitat especially for small birds Grevilleas are a wonderful lure, if they are spikey they can also provide shelter as well as food.

This is Grevillea acanthifolia a large shrub reaching upto to 3 metres high and 3 metres wide, it grows naturally in the Blue Mountains and in other small pockets in of the northern tablelands of New South Wales. Therefore, it can withstand heavy frost and occasional snow, it grows naturally on the edges of creek and river banks in fun sun to part shade.

Grevillea acanthifolia has pinkish red toothbrush flowers from early Spring through Summer which are irresistible to nectar feeding birds. It also attracts many insects and this makes it also a wonderful plant for small insectivorous birds and thanks to its chunky holly-like leaves it offers shelter from predators.

Sometimes the flowers are almost a luminescent purple and are prolific if the Grevillea is in fun sun. I am a big fan of the large divided Grevillea leaf and this species has been used in hybrids to create other useful Grevilleas like ‘Gaudichaudii’ and ‘Bronze Rover’, two ground covers great for weed suppression which show off the prickly coarse leaf with red new growth.

Grevillea acanthifolia makes a great screening shrub if pruned and a wonderful feature shrub if left to arch and spread in its natural shape. This species is a worthy addition to any habitat garden, especially if you are in a frost prone area.

Comments

2 responses to “The pretty prickly Grevillea acanthifolia”

  1. Sara Josephine Gylany

    golly gosh the grevillea acanthifolia is PERFECT for my blackheath, blue mtns backyard, bush garden! but where oh where can i find this plant?
    i have looked and looked, asked and asked….but no luck yet 🙁
    it’s not the ground-cover grevillea’s i am wanting…it’s this lovely wild shrubby plant….that will work in my area.
    any clues please?

    1. Kath Gadd

      Hi Sara,

      As its a local species I would try your community nurseries like the one in the Glenbrook Native Plant Reserve or the Blue Mountains Conservation Society.
      Good Luck,
      Kath

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related posts

Birdbaths designed for birds

Mallee Birdbaths are specifically designed to serve birds. The copper dishes are broad and shallow, allowing birds to land on the edge and walk into the water. The baths are modern, elegant and durable. They are locally made in the Illawarra (NSW, Australia) using materials that will weather well and last decades. For help on which dish to choose, go here.