Australian Cultivar Registration Authority

Description:
Photographer:

Grevillea 'Brookvale Letitia'

File Number

169

ACRA Field Book Number

133

Registration Date

19/10/1988

Application Received

01/12/1978

Family

Proteaceae

Cultivar Name

Grevillea 'Brookvale Letitia'

Origin

Grevillea 'Brookvale Letitia' is said to be a hybrid between G. barklyana subsp. macleayana and G. acanthifolia subsp. acanthifolia. It arose as a seeding in the garden of Mr L Miller of Toowoomba about 1974. It is named after Brookvale Park, an arboretum near where the applicant now resides and Letitia, the name of the applicant's wife.The cultivar was first received by the Authority in December 1978. Registration applied for by Mr W L Miller of Oakey, Queensland.

Characteristics

Note: Received as G. 'Toowoomba Beauty' This cultivar forms a tall pyramidal shrub to 4m tall by ca. 2m wide. The shrub retains branches right to ground level. The leaves are deeply divided, almost to the midvein, and vary between ca. 9cm to 11cm long by 5cm to 7cm wide at the widest point. The upper side of the leaf is pale green and glabrous while the underside is covered with a dense covering of pale hairs. The midveins are clearly distinguished on both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. The stems and new growth are covered with very fine hairs and these are slightly brownish in colour. These hairs are persistent even on older branches. The hairs on the leaves disappear as the leaf becomes mature. Each individual leaf lobe has a prominent tip. The inflorescence is of the "toothbrush" type measuring ca. 6cm long. Individual flowers are 2.5cm long, with the perianth section being silky hairy and a very pale orange in colour. The styles are red. The flowers are densely packed on the rhachis. The flowering period is from late July to approximately October in Toowoomba. Diagnosis: The cultivar is very different form both the putative parents. The lobes of the leaves of the cultivar have a prominent though not pungent tip, resembling those found on the leaves of G. acanthifolia, though the leaf shape differs markedly form both parents. The flowers closely resemble the "toothbrush" inflorescence of G. acanthifolia. The stems of Grevillea 'Brookvale Letitia' and G. barklyana are covered in fine hairs while in G. acanthifolia these hairs are absent.

Cultivation

The cultivar has proven to be frost hardy and drought resistant in Toowoomba, where it has been mainly grown. The cultivar must be grown by vegetative means to preserve the cultivar form.

Publication

Wrigley, J.W. & Fagg, M. (1989), Banksias, Waratahs & Grevilleas and all other plants in the Australian Proteaceae family: 219-220

Colour Coding

RHS Colour Code 1966.Flowers: outer perianth: near greyed orange group 174C, style: near red group 45A.

Propagation

Cuttings from semi-firm new growth

Applicant Name

Mr W L Miller

Uses

As part of a mass planting or mixed in a shrubbery, or as a spectacular feature plant. Attracts nectar feeding birds.

Availability

Specialist native plant nurseries

ANBG Accession Numbers

ACC169, ACRA384/133, CBG9202344/8410492/8601319. Aspecimen is also lodged at the Queensland Herbarium (BRI 231115).

NSL ID

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