Red Ripper Grevillea

Red Ripper Grevillea (Grevillea 'Red Ripper') is a Queensland-bred native shrub that grows to about 2m tall and 1.5m wide, covered in large cherry-red flowers for most of the year. The foliage is fine and ferny, and because the plant is grafted it copes with a wider range of soils than most grevilleas. It is the one to choose when you want a feature shrub that keeps the birds coming.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers all year round. Big cherry-red blooms open through the seasons instead of in one short burst, so there is nearly always colour on the plant.
• Grafted for a wider choice of soil. The rootstock is more adaptable than the plant's own roots, so Red Ripper grows in a broader range of soils than most grevilleas can.
• Alive with small birds. Honeyeaters and spinebills come for the nectar and use the branches as a perch, which puts the birdlife close to the house.
• A manageable size. At about 2m by 1.5m it makes a real display without taking over, and it suits all but the very smallest gardens.

Where it works best

Feature planting. Use it as a stand-alone shrub in a front bed, beside a path or outside a window where you can watch the birds. Give it 1.5m of room on every side so it can reach its full width.

Wildlife and native gardens. Plant it with other natives that flower at different times of year, about 1.5m apart, so nectar feeders always have something in bloom.

Growing Red Ripper Grevillea in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the most flowers. Red Ripper tolerates light overnight frost once established, which suits subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens. Where winter frosts are heavy, plant it against a warm wall or choose a hardier shrub.

Soil. Light, free-draining soil. The graft gives it more flexibility than most grevilleas, but no grevillea likes to sit in water, so avoid low spots.

Water and feed. Water regularly for the first 8 to 12 weeks until it is established. Feed with a slow release native fertiliser when buds form, and check that the phosphorus is under 3 per cent, because grevilleas are sensitive to it.

Pruning. Prune lightly after flowering to shape the plant. Every three to four years, a hard prune brings a fresh flush of foliage and flowers. Remove any leaves that appear below the graft point.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Red Ripper Grevillea as tube stock (a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly) and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. The 200mm pots give you a bigger plant on day one, while tube stock is the economical way to plant several.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When there is none, the tube shows as sold out, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back.

The plant is grafted, so you will see a small band of tape at the graft point. It is biodegradable and dissolves by the time the graft has healed, so leave it alone.

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 all our grevilleas
• The grevillea care guide, including the phosphorus rule
• More bird-attracting plants
• More Australian native shrubs

Common questions

Does Red Ripper need a special fertiliser?

Yes, a native one. Grevilleas are sensitive to phosphorus, so choose a slow release native fertiliser with a phosphorus ratio under 3 per cent and apply it when buds form. Ordinary garden fertiliser can harm the plant.

What is the tape on the stem?

It marks the graft, where Red Ripper is joined to its more adaptable rootstock. The tape is biodegradable and dissolves on its own. Pick off any leaves that sprout below the graft.

Will it survive frost?

Established plants handle light overnight frost. Hard frosts are a different matter, so in cold gardens give it a sheltered spot.