The Woolly Grevillea

The woolly grevillea, Grevillea lanigera, has got to be one of the most useful and reliable plants for any garden. Useful and reliable might not get your loins burning right away, but when this plant keeps turning up for you, that slow burn will only grow hotter!

Grevillea lanigera ‘Mt Tamboritha’

Grevillea lanigera grows naturally in the corner of south-eastern of Australia, in eucalypt woodlands and open heaths from the coast to the alps. Because of its preferences in nature (under trees, varying soils) it is quite tolerable of different conditions in the garden. This plant will grow in part shade to full sun, well drained soils and survive extended dry periods. One of the bonuses of this species is it’s flowering time. It will flower predominantly through winter into spring, and sporadically for the rest of the year.

It can be seen growing in native and exotic gardens, the raspberry coloured flowers can be paired with any other warm tones and they look great planted en masse.

You’ll find it in roundabout plantings, which is a clear sign that this plant is H-A-R-D-Y!

Line ‘em up

This row of G. lanigera ‘Mt Tamboritha' were planted on the edge of the Lily Pilly tree canopy. Growing anything under a Lily Pilly tree is notoriously challenging (note: Lomandra ‘Tanika’ and Correa reflexa x decumbens succeeded).
These plants were fed with a pelletised organic fertiliser a few times a year to give them a boost and they responded famously each time.

The species form of the plant can get to 1.5m tall however the most common form we see in nurseries is the prostrate, or groundcover, forms. The most popular, and best, one is called ‘Mt Tamboritha’, gets to 80cm wide and no more than 30cm high.

‘Kangarutha’ form and ‘Little Drummer Boy’ are similar to ‘Mt Tamboritha’ but not as common. They’re equally good growers though!

You might also see hybrid cultivars called ‘Strawberry Smoothie’ and ‘Raspberry Ripple’. Anything with G. lanigera in its parentage is a sign that you’re onto a winner.