Ruby Red Grevillea

Ruby Red Grevillea (Grevillea banksii 'Ruby Red') is a prostrate native groundcover, up to 50cm high and 3m wide, with dense fine foliage and brilliant red, rounded brush flowers in spring. It is a low form of Grevillea banksii that grows happily in humid conditions, and it is grafted so it adapts to a wider range of soils. Choose it for a bank, a bed edge or a wall that needs a soft cover of green and red.

Why you'll love it

• Dense, fine foliage. Long, slender leaves form a thick cover that smothers weeds and hides bare soil.
• Brilliant red flowers. Rounded red brushes open in spring and draw in nectar-feeding native birds.
• Grafted for a wider choice of soil. Joined to a more adaptable rootstock, it grows in a wider range of soils than most grevilleas.
• Copes with humidity and dry spells. It is happy in humid gardens and tolerates dry conditions once established.
• Made for embankments. The rambling stems trail down steep banks and over walls, covering the ground as they go.

Where it works best

Embankments and slopes. Plant 1.5m apart across the face of the slope. Each plant spreads to about 3m, so a few plants cover a large area.

Walls and rockeries. Plant along the top of a retaining wall and let the stems trail down the face. It stays under 50cm high, so it never blocks a view.

Bird-friendly borders. Use it as the low front layer of a native border, in front of taller shrubs, so the red flowers are within easy reach of visiting birds.

Growing Ruby Red Grevillea in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. Ruby Red is sensitive to frost, so it suits frost-free and mildly frosted gardens in subtropical and warm temperate climates, and it is comfortable in humidity. In cold southern gardens, give it a sheltered spot or choose a hardier groundcover.

Soil. Free-draining soil. Grafting gives it more flexibility than most grevilleas, but avoid sites where water stands. A layer of mulch over the roots helps.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly for the first 12 weeks or so until it is established, after which it tolerates dry conditions. Feed with a slow release native fertiliser when buds form, with phosphorus under 3 per cent.

Pruning. Prune only as needed to keep the shape or hold it back from paths. Remove any leaves that appear below the graft point.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Ruby Red Grevillea as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It is grafted, so a small band of biodegradable tape marks the graft point. The tape dissolves by itself, so leave it be.

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

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 groundcover plants
• Plants for rockeries

Common questions

How far apart should I plant Ruby Red?

Plant 1.5m apart for cover across a bank. Each plant spreads to about 3m, so the gaps close as it grows.

Does it need a warm climate?

It is sensitive to frost, so it does best where winters are mild. It copes with humidity, which makes it a good choice for subtropical and warm temperate gardens.

What is the tape on the stem?

It marks the graft. The tape is biodegradable and dissolves by the time the graft has healed. Remove any leaves that appear below it.