MBN 1Gal Grevillea lavandulacea 'Penola' 02619

One of the very best of all Grevilleas. It's the closest approximation of possibly the best of all, G. lavandulacea 'Tanunda,' which is a notoriously difficult and unforgiving production and garden plant. Grow this for its usually heavy, spectacular show of dense, compact clusters of deep red buds that open to rosy pink, red and cream flowers displayed against the almost too-perfect backdrop of the dense grey foliage. Flowers seem to initiate on any mature growth that receives a modest of chill with daylight. We've seen it in bloom anytime from July until November, continuing almost always until April. Sometimes it flowers July through April. Usually 3-4’ tall by 5-8’ wide, but under hot, dry conditions and in gravelly/sandy soil it can be slower and smaller, and in deeper, richer soils or more summer watering it can become big, 5-6' tall by 15' across or more, also more green and less grey. The species was named for it's foliage, the varietal name originally referred to a range of similar forms found in the Penola area. This was actually the case for many Grevillea varieties, which are now uniform, clonal selections but formerly referred to ecotypes found near those locations. This is one of the showiest cultivars of G. lavandulacea. It makes a good, forgiving, long-lived container plant. This variety is very similar to a hybrid named ‘Poorinda Illumina,’if it isn't in fact that variety confused with and being sold as this selection, according to Brett Hall. Sun, good drainage, very drought tolerant when established. This species is naturally found on sandy soils which become saturated in winter. Probably won't survive below 20F.