Grevillea rosmarinifolia
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| Grevillea rosmarinifolia A.Cunn. |
Grevillea rosmarinifolia (Rosemary Grevillea) is a plant of the family Proteaceae. It is a shrub up to 2m high. Its leaves resemble rosemary - narrow-linear, stiff with sharp points and curled-under margins, 1-4 cm long and 1-3 mm wide. Flowers are red to creamy-pink, in clusters of 1-8 flowers. It flowers in spring and summer.
It was discovered in the 1800s by Allan Cunningham, an English botanist on one of his many expeditions in New South Wales.
This small compact shrub (1.2m x 1.2m) grows easily in a wide range of soils and climates, from cool temperate to sub tropical and semi arid. It produces large pendulous racemes of waxy pink and cream flowers from winter to early summer, extremely attractive to all honeyeaters. The dense needle foliage provides safe nesting habitat for small birds such as Scrub Wrens. It loves full sun or light shade, and grows best in moist, well drained clay loams or sandy soils; mildly alkaline to acid pH suitable. It is extremely frost hardy, and does very well in coastal gardens.
Use: as scattered plantings amongst other shrubs, or plant at 1.5m centres and trim as a flowering hedge. Rosy Posy is an outstanding magnet for honey-eating birds. For additional enjoyment, pick sprigs for small posies of simple charm.
