Grevillea pteridifolia facts for kids

Grevillea pteridifolia is a beautiful plant that grows in Australia. People often call it the silky grevillea because of its soft, fern-like leaves. Other common names include Darwin silky oak and golden grevillea. You can find this plant growing naturally in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland.

About the Silky Grevillea

How it Got its Name

The Grevillea pteridifolia was first found by European explorers in 1770. These explorers, Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, were naturalists on Captain James Cook's ship, the Endeavour. They collected samples of the plant near the Endeavour River.

Later, in 1809, a person named Joseph Knight officially described the plant. He gave it the name Grevillia Pteridifolia. The "Pteris-leaved" part of the name means "fern-leaved," which describes its leaves. The next year, another botanist, Robert Brown, gave it a different name, Grevillea chrysodendron. However, Knight's name was published first. Because of this, Grevillea pteridifolia is the official name we use today.

What Does it Look Like?

The silky grevillea usually grows as a large bush or a small tree. Its leaves are long and deeply cut, like a fern. They can be about 25 to 45 centimeters (10 to 18 inches) long.

One of the most striking features of this plant is its flowers. They grow in long, bright orange clusters at the ends of branches. These flower clusters can be 8 to 22 centimeters (3 to 9 inches) long.

Different Types of Silky Grevillea

Plants from Queensland often grow as shrubs or small trees with smooth bark. Their flowers are a bit lighter in color. There's even a special type near Cooktown that spreads out low to the ground, up to 5 meters (16 feet) wide.

In Western Australia and the Northern Territory, the silky grevillea usually has rough bark. These plants can regrow from a special woody base called a lignotuber if there's a fire. Some plants in Kakadu National Park have unique silvery leaves.

Where Does it Grow?

You can find Grevillea pteridifolia in many parts of northern Australia. It grows from the Kimberley region in Western Australia, across the Northern Territory, and into Queensland. In Queensland, it grows along the Great Dividing Range all the way to Barcaldine.

This plant likes places that have wet summers and dry winters. It thrives in areas that get about 500 to 1500 millimeters (20 to 60 inches) of rain each year.

Growing and Using This Plant

The silky grevillea is a popular plant to grow in warm areas. It likes extra water during summer and soil that drains well. However, its branches can be a bit fragile and might break in very strong winds.

Many popular garden plants are actually mixes of Grevillea pteridifolia and other grevillea species. For example, 'Sandra Gordon' is a cross with G. sessilis. Another well-known garden plant, 'Honey Gem', is a mix of G. pteridifolia and a red type of Grevillea banksii. 'Winter Sparkles' is another similar hybrid.

Aboriginal people on Groote Eylandt used the leaves of this plant. They used them as stuffing or as a herb when cooking emu. Early settlers also used the leaves to stuff pillows. Scientists have also found special compounds in the plant that can help fight bacteria.