Family Proteaceae.
Originating from New South Wales, Australia.
Received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
- A low, mound-shaped evergreen shrub with arching branches.
- Bears spidery, red pollinator-attracting flowers for most of the year.
- An easy-to-grow, drought-tolerant plant for full sun.
The Spider Flower, Grevillea ‘Canberra Gem’ in Your Garden
A summer-long sumptuous display of spidery blooms is borne on vigorous arching branches. Its delicate, unique blooms appear nearly all year peaking in early summer when it erupts into a profusion of colour. Sporadic blooms appear throughout the rest of the year.
An evergreen with pollinator-attracting flowers, it makes it a lively addition to wildlife-friendly gardens. Its soft mound shape is perfect for Mediterranean gravel gardens in Suffolk’s sun-baked gravel gardens. It thrives in North Norfolk’s coastal climate reaching 2m tall and wide in 2–5 years. Hardy in southern and coastal UK gardens, it should be given protection elsewhere during harsh winters.
Its buds form on the branches, appearing as intensely coloured, tightly furled buds, nestling amongst the slender, bright-green rosemary-like foliage. As they mature their intricate structure is revealed; long spidery styles reach out, a dab of pollen at their tips. A cluster of curled shrimp-like perianths containing reproductive organs forms the base of the flower, with creamy markings.
Growing Tips for your Spider Flower: an Evergreen with Pollinator Attracting Flowers
- Soil and Sun: Plant in non-alkaline, well-drained soil; full sun suits.
- Planting: Set in spring or autumn; summer planting requires extra attention to watering. Plunge for 20 minutes to drench the root ball before planting. Do not add compost or improvers to the soil.
- Watering: Moderate; tolerates dry spells once established. Water regularly in its first summer while it is rooting out.
- Pruning: None required. Any trimming should be done in winter.
Few plants can match the intensity and duration of ‘Canberra Gem’s blaze of deep cerise pink/red flowers. Its main flush lasts for months and is borne on vigorous mound-forming branches. Flowering through the rest of the year, though less intense, maintains its display close-up. Evergreen, with pollinator-attracting flowers, drought-tolerant, and floriferous, it is truly an indispensable variety.
Planting Suggestions for Grevillea ‘Canberra Gem’
Create a permanently flowering, evergreen paradise for pollinators. Few plants seem to attract bees and butterflies as much as Spider Flowers do. Australian and New Zealand species in general hold a big attraction for them. Plant Grevilleas ‘Jean O’Neill’, Juniperina ‘Prostrata’, williamsonii, and the low-growing diminuta to create a Grevillea-scape: an Aussie bush garden.
Surround the shrubby species above with Eucalyptus gregsoniana, subcrenulata, coccifera, and nicholii to elevate the Australian vibes. Leptospermum ‘Red Damask’, Pittosporum ‘Gold Star’, ‘Irene Patterson’, and ‘Abbotsbury Gold’ make medium-sized Kiwi additions. Pittosporum ‘Cratus’ and ‘Silver Queen’ add a large shrubby backdrop and their unique wafting scent.
