Scarlet Sprite Grevillea

Scarlet Sprite Grevillea (Grevillea rosmarinifolia 'Scarlet Sprite') is a compact Australian native that flowers from autumn through to spring, when most gardens have gone quiet. It grows to about 1.2m tall and 1.2m wide, dense with fine needle foliage and covered in red spider flowers that honeyeaters work over daily.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers when nothing else does. The scarlet display runs from autumn into spring, filling the long gap between summer flushes.
• Small birds move in. The nectar feeds honeyeaters, and the prickly foliage shelters wrens and finches from cats and larger birds.
• It handles hard ground. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, poor soil tolerant, wind tolerant and salt tolerant, which is a rare combination in a shrub this size.
• Fast to fill out. It grows quickly for a native shrub, so a hedge or mass planting closes in two seasons rather than four.

Where it works best

Hedging and low screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row for a dense informal hedge around 1.2m high. It takes clipping, though a lighter hand keeps more flowers.

Mass planting and borders. Set plants 1m apart on a bank or along a fence line for continuous cover that needs almost nothing once away.

Coastal and exposed gardens. Salt and wind tolerance suit it to a coastal block, and it copes with the poor sandy soil that comes with one.

Growing Scarlet Sprite Grevillea in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the heaviest flowering and the densest habit. It is at home in warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens, and frost is no problem. Humidity is its weak point, so the wet tropics are not for it.

Soil. Drainage matters far more than fertility. It thrives in sand, gravel and thin soils, and on heavy clay it should go on a raised mound. Mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the stem.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then leave it alone. Use a low phosphorus native fertiliser once in early spring, because standard fertilisers can damage grevillea roots.

Pruning. Tip prune lightly after the main flush finishes in spring to keep it compact. Do not cut back into bare old wood, since grevilleas are slow to reshoot from it.

What to expect when it arrives

Three sizes are grown. Tube stock is the value option for a long hedge or a bank: young and single stemmed, but quick to establish. The 140mm plants come in packs of ten and the 200mm plants in packs of six, both already branched.

Grevilleas travel well, and some leaf drop after transit is normal. Expect roots away within a month in warm weather, and the first real flowering the season after planting. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the grevillea care guide for pruning and feeding detail.
• Compare varieties in the grevillea collection.
• See more bird attracting plants.
• Browse other Australian native shrubs.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. That spacing closes into a solid informal hedge about 1.2m high within two seasons, without the plants shading each other out at the base.

Is the foliage really prickly?

Yes, the fine leaves are stiff and sharp tipped. Keep it back from a narrow path, and wear gloves when pruning. That prickliness is what makes it good small bird habitat.

What fertiliser should I use?

A native blend low in phosphorus, applied once in early spring. High phosphorus lawn and garden fertilisers can burn grevillea roots and are the most common cause of sudden decline.

Will it grow in a humid subtropical garden?

It is not the best choice. This variety suits warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid climates, and long humid summers tend to bring on root problems.