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Of all the plants suited to the low Water native garden, there are few more spectacular or diverse than the grevilleas. Coming in a wide range of shape and size, many are in brilliant bloom in June, which attracts birds and pro-vides colour during what can be a dull period in the garden. In the bush around broome the grevillea pyramidalis and its close relative the hakea macrocarpa can be seen in full bloom, often attended by noisy group of honey eaters, finches and parrots. Member of the Proteaceae family, they are part of a large group of ranging from large trees to miniature aromatic shrubs, which are particularly abundant in Australia.
The family also includes the Banksia and about 1200 other species. The grevilleas are almost entirely confined to Australia, with the richest area for them of all being in the southwest of WA.
Across the North of Australia there are more than two dozen examples mainly small trees.
Many have great potential as unusual ornaments for garden and rocheriess, with their characteristically intricate flower coming in cream, yellow, pink and crimson, with many variations in between. Grevillea flowers are structured with dozens of tiny nectar sacs, which attract honey eaters and other birds for pollination. During the heat of a sunny morning the nectar sacs fill with delicious honey –like liquid, which is still relished by bush people particularly children. Some varieties of grevillea are available through the local nurseries while broome’s CALM nursery has cultivated several species over the years. These include: grevillea Formosa, a prostrate variety with yellow flower and fine silvery-green leaves; grevillea dryandri, a low sprawling shrub with red or pink flowers; and grevillea pteridifolia, a common tree in the top end which has brilliant orange flowers. Another commonly grown version is the Robyn Gordon which is a hybrid between grevillea pinatifida and grevillea banksia. It is a highly adaptable version, which suits a wide range of soils and does well in the tropics.
Grevilleas are cultivated from seeds
or sometimes tip cuttings.
They are a hardly plant and because of their adaptation to a harsh climate and often poor soils, they do not require much fertiliser, particularly artificial. They will however benefit from mulch and well-rotted compost. Grevilleas are well suited to drip irrigation, attracting birds and pollinating insect to the low water garden.
Grevillea pyramidalis R. Br. Maangga or Caustic Tree Small slender tree to 4 m; bark greyish brown, corky; leaves pale greyish green, once- or twice- pinnate, the segment not numerous, linear-cuneate or oblanceolate, obtuse; inflorescence large and spectacular, terminal, of 1- several simple or compound panicles of 7-many racemes; flowers cream, small; follicle coated black with a stick, caustic resin thin walled. Widespread in pindan understorey at coulomb point, beagle bay ,. Cape Leaveque and One Arm Point. Also occurs in NT. Bardi names maangga (tree) Maarroo (this word applies to any flower) and iiling (bark). Yellow paint obtained from chewing and spitting out the inner bark. The sticky resin on the seed pods is caustic and has been recorded in the kimberly as having caused second degree burns. A variable species with at least two leaf forms (a broad-lobed form and a narrow-lobed form) is being recognised on the peninsula.
Flowering May-July (2007 -
July) ;
fruiting August-September.
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