Grevillea coccinea facts for kids

The scarlet grevillea (Grevillea coccinea) is a beautiful shrub that grows in Western Australia. It's known for its bright, often red, flowers. This plant is part of the Grevillea family, which has many different kinds of plants. You can find it growing along the southern coast in the Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance areas of Western Australia.

What the Scarlet Grevillea Looks Like

The scarlet grevillea is a spreading shrub. It usually grows to be about 0.5 to 2.5 meters (about 1.5 to 8 feet) tall. Its branches are smooth and don't have a waxy coating.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of the scarlet grevillea are simple and long. They are about 30 to 95 millimeters (1 to 3.7 inches) long and 1 to 4 millimeters (about 0.04 to 0.16 inches) wide.

The flowers grow in a cluster at the end of the branches. This flower cluster is called an inflorescence. The flowers can be cream, green, or red. They usually appear between July and December, which is winter and spring in Australia.

Fruit

After the flowers, the plant produces a simple fruit. This fruit is hairy and has ribs. It is shaped like an oval and is reddish-brown. The fruit is about 11 to 16 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long.

Where the Scarlet Grevillea Grows

You can often find the scarlet grevillea growing among medium-sized trees. It also likes to live in tall shrubland areas and in heathland.

Soil and Rock Preferences

This plant can grow in different types of soil. It does well in loam, sand, or gravelly soils. It also likes areas where there are granite, laterite, or quartzite rocks.

Different Types of Scarlet Grevillea

There are two main types, or subspecies, of the scarlet grevillea that scientists have identified:

• Grevillea coccinea subsp. coccinea
• Grevillea coccinea subsp. lanata