Creeping Grevillea: 5 Varieties to Discover

Grevillea hybrid 'Bronze Rambler': an original and ornamental dissected foliage

‘Bronze Rambler’ is a hybrid variety of Grevillea, resulting from the cross-breeding of two species (rivularis x ‘Poorinda Peter’). It is distinguished by its quite impressive creeping silhouette (30 cm in height and 3 metres in spread) and the aesthetic appeal of its foliage. The leaves are indeed cut into large lobes, and the young shoots are delicately coloured in coppery bronze.

In spring, this foliage comes to life with the appearance of beautiful red or purplish-pink flowers, which follow one another for many weeks. They are grouped in clusters resembling toothbrushes.

This bush forms a dense and very graphic groundcover, but can only be grown in open ground in the mildest and sunniest regions, where frosts do not exceed -6°C. In a Mediterranean garden, it will thrive beautifully in a raised bed or a large rockery. Plant it next to Leptospermum, cistus and creeping junipers.

Hybrid Grevillea ‘Bronze Rambler’

Grevillea juniperina ‘New Blood’: a spreading habit and endless flowering

If the type species of Grevillea juniperina is very popular, the creeping variety ‘New Blood’ deserves to be more widely known.

Its evergreen needle-like foliage displays a beautiful bright green and is quite dense. It serves as a backdrop to the magnificent and tireless flowering of a bright pink almost red, which lasts almost all year round in a mild climate without frosts. In less clement regions, it will bloom in summer and still last for several weeks.

‘New Blood’ has a small spreading silhouette, reaching 35 cm in height and just over 1 metre in spread. These modest dimensions allow it to be grown in the ground or in pots, especially in areas with severe frosts. Its hardiness, rather commendable for the genus, reaches -10 to -12°C in optimal conditions (protected location and perfectly drained soil).

Pair it with an Escallonia ‘Red Carpet’ with its summer pink flowers. Add the delicate white flowers of the candytuft Iberis sempervirens and the bright cup-shaped flowers of a Callirhoe involucrata.

Grevillea juniperina ‘New Blood’

Grevillea prostata ‘Aurea’: a sunny groundcover with yellow flowering

This Grevillea is notable for its sulphur-yellow flowering, which is less common among these bushes. It occurs in spring, renewing itself generously for several weeks. The spider-like flowers lack petals but have petaloid styles and long, prominent stamens. With a tousled appearance, they possess a true natural charm. Its evergreen foliage consists of fine, needle-like leaves in a lovely light green.

‘Aurea’ has a prostrate, spreading silhouette, reaching 50 cm in height and 1.20 metres in width. Fast-growing, it will easily spread to form a dense, bright cushion.

Like most Grevilleas, this shrub native to Australia does not tolerate harsh winters and severe frosts. Its hardiness is limited to around -5°C. In unsuitable regions, this variety can, however, be grown in pots, planters, or hanging baskets, allowing it to be brought indoors during the cold season.

It enjoys perfectly drained soils where water does not stagnate. Provide it with a sunny exposure on a rockery to green the base of a wall or dress a slope.

Pair this Grevillea with creeping brooms that appreciate the same growing conditions, such as Cytisus decumbens, winged broom (Genista sagittalis), or Lydia broom (Genista lydia). They also flower in yellow at the end of spring. You can also choose the creeping broom Cytisus kewensis, which offers a rather cream-yellow flowering. To create a lovely contrast, pair them with blue-flowering plants, such as lavenders or Nepetas in the northern Loire regions.

Grevillea gracilis ‘Alba’: a compact variety with bright white flowers

The Grevillea gracilis ‘Alba’ is not one of the wider varieties typically used as groundcover. However, its small size allows for it to be used to dress slopes, rockeries, borders, or the front of flower beds. It reaches 60 cm in height and 40 cm in spread. Its bushy foliage consists of evergreen needle-like leaves, displaying a vibrant green.

From the end of winter, it offers an abundant cream-white spider-like flowering, particularly bright. The flowers appear on the shrub almost continuously until the end of spring.

Not tolerating frosts above approximately -6°C, ‘Alba’ will only be grown in open ground in coastal regions with a mild climate. Elsewhere, pot cultivation is entirely possible on terraces, balconies, or in small gardens. Like its relatives, this Grevillea will require full sun and a light, poor substrate that drains well, with a neutral or acidic pH.

Also appreciating acidic soils, winter heathers with a spreading habit will pair very well with our shrub. They will precede its flowering by brightening cold days with their lovely pink (‘Spring Surprise’, ‘Ghost Hills’, ‘Kramer’s Rote’) or white (‘White Perfection’) bells.

For an exotic-looking flower bed in a mild climate, you can also pair it with a Callistemon citrinus ‘Albus’ with a spreading habit (1 metre in height and 3 metres in spread).