Rough-fruit grevillea facts for kids
Grevillea trachytheca, also known as vanilla grevillea or rough-fruit grevillea, is a type of shrub. It belongs to the Grevillea plant family. This plant grows naturally in the Mid West and Gascoyne areas of Western Australia.
Quick facts for kids Rough-fruit grevillea |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Grevillea
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| Species: |
trachytheca
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Contents
What is Vanilla Grevillea?
The vanilla grevillea is an evergreen shrub. This means it keeps its leaves all year round. It usually grows to be about 0.6 to 2 meters (2 to 7 feet) tall. Its branches do not have a waxy coating.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are simple and flat. They are a mid-green color and are shaped like long, narrow blades. Each leaf is about 15 to 35 millimeters (0.6 to 1.4 inches) long and 1 to 2 millimeters (0.04 to 0.08 inches) wide.
The plant blooms between May and October. It produces groups of flowers called inflorescences at the ends of its branches. These flowers are white or cream-colored and have a strong, sweet smell, like vanilla! The parts of the flower called styles are also white or cream.
Fruit and Seeds
After the flowers, the plant forms fruits. These fruits are pitted, meaning they have small dents. They are shaped like an oval or egg and are smooth. Each fruit is about 11 to 14 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long.
The vanilla grevillea can only grow new plants from its seeds. It is very similar to another plant called Grevillea crithmifolia. However, Grevillea crithmifolia has shorter flower clusters and leaves that are divided into smaller parts.
Where It Grows
Vanilla grevillea is commonly found in areas with medium to low trees, often in shrubland. It mostly grows near the town of Kalbarri and along the lower part of the Murchison River. It prefers to grow in sandy soils that contain a lot of calcium.
How It's Used
This plant is a great choice for gardens, especially in places with dry soils. It does well in climates similar to the Mediterranean, which have warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. It can also grow well in coastal areas.
Gardeners use vanilla grevillea in many ways:
- As an informal hedge
- For border planting
- As a windbreak to protect other plants
It likes to grow in full sun. It can also handle strong winds and salty conditions, which makes it good for coastal gardens.
History
The Grevillea trachytheca was first officially described by a botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He wrote about it in his book Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae in 1888.
