Grevillea robusta
| Grevillea robusta | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-7.3 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 98' |
| Width: | 49' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Grevillea robusta (common name: silky oak)
Propagation: Seed - sow February in a warm greenhouse. Germination is usually good[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, June/July in a frame[1].
Cultivation: An easy and fast-growing tree requiring a well-drained slightly acid soil and a sunny position[2]. It prefers a rich moist soil[3], but it also succeeds in dry soils. Dislikes limey soils[4][5]. Established plants are drought resistant[6].
This species is not very hardy when grown outdoors in Britain. In its native range it does experience frosts, though these are normally light and short-lived[3]. Plants tolerate temperatures down to -7°c in Australian gardens[5] though this cannot be translated directly to British gardens because of our cooler summers and longer, colder and wetter winters. It is usually grown as a pot plant in Britain, though it rarely flowers here[4].
A very ornamental plant[4], it is often grown as a street tree in suitable climates[2].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[5].
The flowers are very attractive to bees[6].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[7].
Range: Australia - New South Wales, Queensland.
Habitat: Temperate rainforests[5]
Edibility: The flowers are one of the richest sources of nectar[8]. This can be sucked directly from the flowers, shaken into a bowl or washed out in a small quantity of water[8]. The nectar falls in showers when the flowers are shaken[9].
Usage: The plant yields small quantities of a gum resin[6].
The leaves contain rutin, though quantities are not specified[10].
Intense yellow and green dyes are obtained from the leaves[11].
This tree is one of the most important reafforestation trees in Nepal[12].
This species is more resistant than other members of the genus to root-rotting fungus, it is sometimes used as a rootstock for the more susceptible species[7].
Wood - strong, silky textured, light, easily split, durable but porous. Used for panelling, joinery, cabinet making etc[6][13][3]. A good fuel[12].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2. Pan Books, London, 1998.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Holliday, Ivan and Ron Hill. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller, 1974.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Wrigley, John and Murray Fagg. Australian Native Plants. Collins, 1988.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Ewart, Alfred. Recording Census of the Victorian Flora. 1923.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Cribb, Alan and Joan Cribb. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana, 1976.
- ↑ Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ Cribb, Alan. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins, 1981.