Fish Bone Flat Grevillea

Fish Bone Flat Grevillea (Grevillea 'Fish Bone Flat') is a hardy native groundcover that grows only 20cm to 30cm high but spreads 2m to 3m wide. Copper-brown young growth matures to broad, lobed leaves, and large red-pink brush flowers appear from autumn through to spring. It forms a dense carpet and suits slopes and poor soil.

Why you'll love it

• A dense, weed-suppressing carpet. The wide leaves close over the ground, so weeds struggle to find light.
• Colour when the garden is quiet. Pink-red toothbrush flowers open from autumn right through to spring.
• Made for slopes. It is used for erosion control on steep ground, where its wide, dense cover shields the soil.
• Copper new growth. Young leaves flush copper-brown before turning green, so the plant has colour even out of flower.
• Tough in frost and drought. It tolerates frost to -7C and dry spells once established.

Where it works best

Slopes and banks. Plant 1.5m apart in staggered rows. The plants meet within a few seasons, and mulch between them holds weeds back until they do.

Weed control in poor soil. Where bare ground keeps growing weeds, a carpet of Fish Bone Flat shades the soil and saves repeated weeding.

Wildlife and winter-flower gardens. The low, dense cover shelters small creatures, and the long flowering season feeds nectar-loving birds and insects through autumn, winter and spring.

Growing Fish Bone Flat Grevillea in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the most flowers. It will grow in shade, but flowering and leaf colour may be reduced. With frost tolerance to -7C it is a sound choice for cool southern and highland gardens as well as milder coasts.

Soil. Free draining soil is the one real requirement. Sand, gravel and poor soils suit it, and a slope helps water move through. In heavy clay, plant on a mound and avoid any low spot where water pools.

Water and feed. Water regularly for the first 8 to 12 weeks, then rely on rainfall in most gardens, as it tolerates drought once established. Feed with a slow release native fertiliser when buds form, with phosphorus under 3 per cent.

Pruning. Prune after flowering to encourage more flowers, keep the habit dense and control spread. Every 3 to 4 years a hard prune brings a fresh flush of flowers and foliage.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Fish Bone Flat Grevillea as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Expect a small young plant with a few stems. Groundcovers spend the first season building roots, so plan on a couple of seasons before it forms a full carpet. Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the page reads sold out, use the notify button and you will get an email the day it returns.

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 the full grevillea range
• More groundcover plants
• Plants for retaining walls and banks
• Grevillea care guide

Common questions

How far apart should I plant Fish Bone Flat?

Plant 1.5m apart for a carpet that closes in a few seasons. Where you can mulch and wait, 2m also works and needs fewer plants.

Will it grow in shade?

It will grow, but flowering and leaf colour may be reduced. Choose full sun for the best display.

Is it frost hardy?

Yes. It tolerates frost to -7C, which makes it a good groundcover for cold southern and highland gardens.