Fire Cracker Grevillea

Fire Cracker Grevillea (Grevillea alpina x rosmarinifolia 'Fire Cracker') is a dwarf native shrub, about 40cm tall and 80cm wide, covered in clusters of tiny curled red and yellow flowers from April to October. The soft evergreen foliage forms a naturally compact mound, so it needs little shaping. It suits pots, borders and low hedges.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers for seven months. Red and yellow clusters open from April to October, so a full winter bloom looks like a bonfire.
• Naturally compact. A neat mound of 40cm by 80cm needs very little shaping.
• Soft to touch. The evergreen foliage is soft rather than prickly, so it is pleasant beside paths.
• Handles coast and clay. It tolerates light frosts, dry spells and coastal conditions once established, and a sea breeze or clay soil does not bother it.
• Good for bees and birds. The flowers attract bees and nectar-feeding birds.

Where it works best

Dwarf flowering hedges. Plant 50cm apart in a single row. The mounds merge into a low hedge about 40cm high, handy along paths and garden beds.

Pots and window boxes. Its small size suits containers on patios and balconies, where the winter flowers are at eye level.

Native and low water gardens. Use it at the front of native beds, in informal borders and in gardens that rely on rainfall.

Growing Fire Cracker Grevillea in Australia

Position and climate. Choose full sun. It tolerates light frosts, dry spells and coastal conditions once established. The parents come from inland Victoria and southern New South Wales, so it suits temperate gardens, drier gardens and the coast.

Soil. Plant in well drained soil and mulch well. It is happy in clay as long as water does not sit around the roots.

Water and feed. Water regularly until the plant is established, and water well in hot spells. Feed with a slow release native fertiliser when buds form, and choose one with phosphorus under 3 per cent, because grevilleas are sensitive to phosphorus.

Pruning. Prune after flowering to promote new growth and more flowers.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Fire Cracker Grevillea as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives small and soft-leaved, and it grows into a mound over a season or two. Plant it in a sunny spot, mulch around it and water through the first summer.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse our grevilleas
• Drought tolerant plants
• Plants that suit pots
• Grevillea care guide

Common questions

When does Fire Cracker flower?

From April to October, so it covers autumn, winter and early spring, when many other plants are resting.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes. At 40cm by 80cm it suits containers and window boxes. Use a free draining mix and water well in hot spells.

Will it grow near the sea?

Yes. Once established it tolerates coastal conditions, and it does not mind a sea breeze.