Laurel-leaf grevillea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Laurel-leaf grevillea |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Grevillea
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| Species: |
laurifolia
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| Synonyms | |
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Grevillea amplifolia Gand. |
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The Grevillea laurifolia, also known as the laurel-leaf grevillea, is a cool plant from eastern Australia. It's a type of prostrate shrub, which means it grows flat and spreads out along the ground.
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About the Laurel-Leaf Grevillea
This plant was first described in 1827 by a scientist named Kurt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel. It still has the same name he gave it! The name laurifolia comes from two Latin words: laurus, meaning "laurel", and folium, meaning "leaf". This is because its leaves look a bit like those of a laurel plant.
Sometimes, different plants can mix their genes and create a new type. This is called a hybrid. The Grevillea × gaudichaudii is a natural hybrid plant. It was created when the Grevillea laurifolia mixed with another plant called Grevillea acanthifolia. People even grow this hybrid in gardens now!
What Does It Look Like?
The laurel-leaf grevillea is a spreading shrub. It grows very low to the ground, like a carpet, and can spread out up to 4.5 meters wide.
Its leaves are usually oval-shaped. Some can even look like a heart! They are about 3 to 12 centimeters long and 2 to 6 centimeters wide. The edges of the leaves can be smooth or have small rounded teeth.
The flowers are really interesting. They grow in spikes and are dark red to grey-red. These flower spikes are about 2 to 6 centimeters long. You can usually see them from September to January, but they are most common in November.
Where Does It Grow?
The laurel-leaf grevillea lives in the Blue Mountains in Australia. You can find it from a place called Newnes in the north, all the way down to Wombeyan Caves in the south. It also grows east to Wentworth Falls and Warrimoo.
This plant likes to grow in soils that don't have a lot of nutrients. These soils can be made of clay, shale, or sand. You might find it on hills and slopes, or sometimes near wet, swampy areas.
It often grows in open sclerophyll forests. Here, it shares its home with trees like the silvertop ash (Eucalyptus sieberi) and Sydney peppermint (Eucalyptus piperita). Other trees include broad-leaved peppermint (Eucalyptus dives) and scribbly gum (Eucalyptus sclerophylla).
You might also see it alongside other shrubs. These include the dense phyllota (Phyllota squarrosa) and mountain geebung (Persoonia chamaepitys). It can also be found with silver banksia (Banksia marginata).
Growing It in Your Garden
If you want to grow Grevillea laurifolia in your garden, it's usually quite easy! It needs good drainage, so the water doesn't sit around its roots. It also likes a sunny spot.
Sometimes, it can be a bit tricky to grow in places that are very low down. But if you have the right conditions, it makes a great groundcover plant. It spreads out nicely and can even attract birds to your garden!
There's a special type of this plant called Grevillea 'Poorinda Royal Mantle'. This is a very strong and fast-growing plant. It was created by a plant expert named Leo Hodge in 1978. People think it's a hybrid between G. laurifolia and another plant called G willisii.
