Grevillea Outback Sunrise

Grevillea 'Outback Sunrise' (Grevillea 'Outback Sunrise') is a low spreading native that covers ground fast and pays for itself in birds. It stays around 50cm high while running out to about 2m across, and the orange and yellow flowers appear over a long season on a plant that asks for almost nothing once it is away. On a hot dry bank where lawn will not hold, this is the answer.

Why you'll love it

• Wide and low, not tall and leggy. Roughly 50cm by 2m means one plant does the work of several, and sightlines over a bed stay open.
• Honeyeaters find it quickly. The orange and yellow flowers carry nectar that draws small birds, and bees and butterflies work them too.
• It grows fast on poor ground. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and happy in thin soil, so gravel banks and unimproved clay are fair game.
• Almost no upkeep. A light tip prune after the main flowering flush is the entire maintenance schedule.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 1.5m apart for full groundcover. At that spacing the plants meet in the second season and shade out most weeds without any help.

Retaining walls and slopes. Set it along the top of a wall and let it cascade over the face, or use it to hold a batter that is too steep to mow. The root system grips loose ground well.

Rockeries and pots. It suits a hot gravelly rockery, and a single plant will trail over the edge of a wide container on a sunny terrace.

Growing Grevillea Outback Sunrise in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, with good air movement. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens. Frost is the limit: it takes light frost only, so cold tableland and inland districts need a sheltered north facing position or a hardier grevillea.

Soil. Sharp drainage matters far more than fertility. Sandy, gravelly and rocky soils are ideal. On clay, plant on a raised mound and resist the urge to dig in rich compost.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in extended dry weather. Use a native fertiliser low in phosphorus, or none at all. Standard garden fertilisers can kill grevilleas outright.

Pruning. Tip prune lightly after the main flush to keep the plant dense and encourage the next round of flowers. Avoid cutting back into bare old wood, which reshoots poorly.

What to expect when it arrives

Three sizes are available: tube stock, a 140mm pack of 10 and a 200mm pack of 6. Tubes are the value choice for covering a large bank, and because grevilleas resent root disturbance they often overtake bigger plants within a year. The 200mm plants give the fastest visual result on a smaller area.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect a quiet few weeks after planting while the roots move out, then fast spread through the first warm season. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete grevillea care guide
• Browse the full grevillea range
• Plants for retaining walls and slopes
• More bird attracting plants for the garden

Common questions

How many do I need to cover a bank?

At 1.5m spacing you need roughly four to five plants per ten square metres. A pack of 10 covers about 22 square metres once the plants have spread.

Can I fertilise it normally?

No. Grevilleas are sensitive to phosphorus and standard lawn or garden fertiliser can damage the roots. Use a native blend, applied lightly in early spring, or skip feeding altogether.

Will frost kill it?

Light frost is tolerated once the plant is established, but hard or repeated frost is not. In cold districts keep it against a warm wall, or choose a grevillea rated frost hardy instead.