Plant profile
Grevillea 'Poorinda Royal Mantle'
Grevillea 'Poorinda Royal Mantle'
A large prostrate grevillea for broad banks and beds, with red toothbrush flowers and branches that can spread more than three metres. This is for serious coverage, not a small gap between perennials.
- Grows well in
- Subtropical, Temperate, Cool / mountains
- Lifecycle
- Perennial native groundcover
- Light
- Full sun, Part shade
- Mature size
- 20–40 cm high and 2–3 m or more wide
- Spacing
- Allow roughly 1.5–2 m between plants for broad bank coverage; individual plants can spread farther with time.
- Growth habit
- Large prostrate evergreen shrub cultivar.
- Native range
- Cultivated Australian hybrid, believed to involve Grevillea laurifolia and Grevillea willisii.
- Natural habitat
- No natural habitat of its own; parent species are Australian natives from south-eastern Australia.
When to plant
Subtropical
March–August
Temperate
March–May
Cool / mountain
September–November
Plant during mild weather while you can provide reliable water for establishment. Autumn or spring suits temperate districts; in warmer subtropical gardens the cooler part of the year is often easier.
Planting
Think about the final spread before planting because this cultivar can cover several metres. Set it well back from paths, driveways and small plants that would be buried by its branches. Plant at the same depth as the nursery pot, water deeply and mulch the surrounding soil without piling mulch against the trunk. On a bank, one plant can eventually cover a substantial area, so wider spacing is usually better than creating an expensive row that will need constant pruning.
Position and light
Grow Grevillea 'Poorinda Royal Mantle' in full sun for dense growth and strong flowering. It also tolerates semi-shade, although the cover may become looser where light is limited.
Soil
Use reasonably well-drained soil and avoid high-phosphorus fertilisers or amendments. Good drainage is particularly important where summer rainfall or irrigation is heavy.
Watering
Water regularly while the root system establishes. Once settled in, give a deep watering through prolonged heat or dry weather rather than frequent shallow watering.
Feeding
Established native groundcovers usually need little feeding. If growth is weak, use a light application of a low-phosphorus fertiliser suitable for Australian natives during active growth.
Pruning
Shape young plants and shorten long stems after flowering or during active growth. Light regular pruning is easier than trying to reduce an old, very broad plant all at once.
Propagation
Propagate this cultivar from firm current-season cuttings so the new plant keeps the same low spreading habit and flower colour. Seed will not come true to the named hybrid.
Common problems
Poor drainage can cause root decline. Scale and other sap-sucking insects may occur, and individual branches can die back if the root system is stressed.
Worth knowing
This is a cultivated Australian hybrid rather than a wild species. Its spread is the main attraction on a large bank and the main reason not to put it in a small bed.
Featured In
Grow Grevillea 'Poorinda Royal Mantle' with Brancho
Add it to My Garden and Brancho works out what it needs next, timed for your climate.
How it grows around Australia
Growing this too? Share what you've noticed in your garden.
Grow a Little Wild
New plants to try, useful growing tips and a few garden jobs based on what you grow.