Australian Cultivar Registration Authority

Description:
Photographer:

Grevillea 'Bairnsdale'

File Number

371

ACRA Field Book Number

189

Registration Date

19/10/1989

Application Received

01/11/1985

Family

Proteaceae

Cultivar Name

Grevillea 'Bairnsdale'

Origin

Grevillea 'Bairnsdale' is a seedling selection from Grevillea 'Poorinda Constance', chosen by Mr L Hodge and promoted by the Bairnsdale Horticultural Society. It arose in cultivation on a property formerly owned by Mr L Hodge on Mt Lookout Road, Bairnsdale, Victoria. Grevillea 'Bairnsdale' was selected in 1977. The Bairnsdale Horticultural Society planned to promote Grevillea 'Bairnsdale' by selling plants at their Bicentennial Flower Show at the Society's 100th anniversary spring Show in 1989. The cultivar was first received by the Authority in November 1985. Registration applied for by Mrs N Stewart for the Bairnsdale Horticultural Society Inc., Bairnsdale, Victoria.

Characteristics

This cultivar is a dense, compact shrub growing to 2m tall by 2m wide. The leaves are lanceolate and vary considerably over the shrub, with the large ones reaching up to 3.5cm long. On average they are ca. 3cm long by 6-9mm wide. The underside of the leaves are covered with a dense coating of appressed short silky hairs giving a silvery appearance while the upper surface is dark green and glabrous. The leaf margins are slightly recurved and the leaves end with a short mucronate tip. The mid vein of the leaves are prominent both above and below and the articulate veins are clearly visible on the upper leaf surface. The branches are also covered with a dense coating of silky hairs. On the newer growth this hair is flecked with brown giving the growth a brownish tinge. The hairs are less prominent on older branches, being closely appressed to the stem. The flowers are in short, densely packed terminal racemes on the branchlets and are a rusty red in colour. The rusty red appearance is due to the very dense covering of hairs over the whole perianth surface. The perianth is ca. 1.5cm long and the style is ca. 2cm long. The style and ovary are glabrous. The flowers are found from August to December in Bairnsdale. Diagnosis: Grevillea 'Bairnsdale' is a seedling selection from Grevillea 'Poorinda Constance' and is very close to the latter in many respects. The flower colour of Grevillea 'Poorinda Constance' is slightly darker than Grevillea 'Bairnsdale'. The leaves of Grevillea 'Bairnsdale' are a little wider. It is smaller in stature than Grevillea 'Poorinda Constance'. Grevillea 'Bairnsdale' appears to have more similarity to G. victoriae than Grevillea 'Poorinda Constance' does. The leaves of the cultivar are similar to the leaves of the smaller leaved forms of G. victoriae though they are a little smaller. The flowers are also very similar though smaller in size. The cultivar looks very much like a small version of G. victoriae . The applicant has had the cultivar examined by a horticulturist at the Authorities request. The comments received back were that " they were far more floriferous than Grevillea 'Poorinda Constance' and although the clusters of flowers were not as showy, the bushes were most attractive and more compact and not at all like Grevillea 'Poorinda Constance'.

Cultivation

Cultivation requirements are similar to those for Grevillea 'Poorinda Constance'. The plant should be very adaptable to a wide range of conditions. It is drought resistant and frost hardy. The cultivar must be grown by vegetative means to preserve the cultivar form.

Publication

Elliot, W.R. & Jones, D.L. (1990), Encyclopaedia of Australian plants suitable for cultivation 5: 131

Colour Coding

RHS Colour Chart 1966perianth and style: red group 42Bleaves (new): green group 143Aleaves (old): green group 139A

Propagation

Cuttings from semi-firm new growth

Applicant Name

Mrs N Stewart

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

ACC371; ACRA189; CBG8504716.

NSL ID

-