Midstorey

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Juniper-leaf grevillea Grevillea juniperina

Also called Prickly spider flower

When it flowers

Grevillea juniperina in the collection at the Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra.
Grevillea juniperina in the collection at the Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra.. Photo: PDH (talk · contribs), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Grevillea juniperina (leaves and flower). Location: Maui, Kula Experiment Station
Grevillea juniperina (leaves and flower). Location: Maui, Kula Experiment Station. Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Grevillea juniperina 'Molonglo' at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, El Cajon, California, USA. Identified by sign.
Grevillea juniperina 'Molonglo' at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, El Cajon, California, USA. Identified by sign.. Photo: Stickpen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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Prickly, cold-hardy shrub with spider flowers in yellow, apricot or red.

A variable NSW species with sharp, needle-like leaves. Forms range from low, spreading shrubs to upright bushes, and flower colour varies from yellow and apricot to red. It is a parent of many hardy hybrids, including 'Canberra Gem'.

In the garden

  • Hedging
  • Rockery
  • Banks and slopes
Attracts
Birds and shelter for small wildlife
Flowers
Spider flowers in clusters, yellow, apricot or red depending on the form.
Leaves
Crowded, needle-like leaves with sharp points.

Growing conditions

Climate
Temperate and cool and alpine
Light
Full sun to part shade
Soil
Sandy, loam and clay
Drainage
Needs good drainage
Frost
Hard frost
Water
Very drought tolerant

Planting and care

Grown from
Seed and cuttings

Planting

Sun or light shade. Low forms suit banks and rockeries; upright forms make a barrier hedge.

Pruning

Light trim after flowering keeps it dense.

Care

Use a low-phosphorus native fertiliser, if any. Rarely needs watering once established.

Safety

  • Prickly or spiny

Sharp-pointed leaves. Wear gloves when pruning.

Where it comes from

Native to
New South Wales
Natural range
Western Sydney and the central and southern tablelands of NSW.

Where to buy

Widely available.

We don't have stockists listed for this plant yet. Local native nurseries are often the best place to ask.

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