Re: R: mystery plant
- Subject: Re: R: mystery plant
- From: B* E* <e*@iinet.net.au>
- Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2007 08:45:56 +0800
Tony and Moira wrote:
Tony & Moira Ryan, Wainuiomata, New Zealand
Climate ( US Zone 9). Annual averages:-
Minimum -2°C; Maximum 28°C Rainfall 2000mm
----- Original Message -----
I have planted a Grevillea robusta, which should do excellent here, as
I've seen it growing in the harbor in Alameda, which gets fog and cold
like we do. I was very amazed by its golden inflorescences. When I saw
one at a local nursery here, I immediately bought it (it was also a
bit pot bound, it was obvious it kept getting looked over.) I expect
in 30 years for it to be an impressive focal point!
Grevillea robust did very well in our Kenya garden where I lived as a
child. I have also seen it grown here in the warmer parts of our local
district, but the NZ ones are much smaller trees, so I presume the
climate is marginal in warmth for them. In Africa ( no frosts at our
altitude) I remember them as stately trees probably at least 50 feet
high though I guess they were most likely not then fully grown (they
are said to reach 100 ft in the wild). The golden inflorescences are
indeed showy and fairly unusual in a genus where the majority of
flowers seem to be in shades of red.
Curiously I don't seem to have seen any in their native Australia when
I have visited there.
Moira
Moira, they are quite common here in Perth though not native here. I
have never heard about their being allergenic - though I have heard that
about some other Grevillea, I think it was the cultivar Robyn Gordon.
Beverly