Grevillea juniperina 'New Blood'

New Blood Juniper Grevillea

Botanical Name: Grevillea juniperina 'New Blood'
Family: Proteaceae
Origin: Australia (southeastern Australia; cultivated selection)
Plant Type: Evergreen prostrate groundcover shrub

Overview

A spectacular low-growing Australian native grevillea perfectly suited to Adelaide's Mediterranean climate, Grevillea juniperina 'New Blood' forms dense, spreading mats of fine needle-like foliage smothered in masses of brilliant blood-red spider-style flowers for months on end. Blooming prolifically from late winter through spring and into summer with sporadic flowering year-round, it delivers continuous colour and exceptional bird-attracting power in a compact groundcover form. Exceptionally drought-tolerant, heat-loving and low-maintenance, 'New Blood' thrives in hot, dry positions where many plants struggle. Ideal for rockeries, embankments, mass plantings, cascading over walls and wildlife gardens, this tough native brings vibrant red impact and wildlife appeal to water-wise South Australian landscapes.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 20–30 cm H × 150–200 cm W (low, prostrate spreading habit)
• Growth Rate: 40–70 cm per year under good conditions (fast lateral spread)
• Foliage: Fine, needle-like dark green leaves; dense, low mat-forming growth; evergreen year-round
• Flowers: Masses of brilliant blood-red spider-style flowers; blooms heavily late winter through spring and into summer (July–December) with sporadic flowering year-round; flowers nearly smother foliage at peak bloom
• Fragrance: Not fragrant
• Seasonal Interest: Evergreen structure year-round with spectacular late winter–spring flowering peak; flowers attract wildlife throughout most of the year
• Wildlife Value: Exceptional for wildlife—attracts honeyeaters, lorikeets, native bees, butterflies, and other nectar-feeding birds and insects in large numbers
• Tolerance: Exceptional drought tolerance once established; exceptional heat tolerance; frost-hardy (tolerates moderate frosts); excellent wind tolerance; coastal-tolerant in sheltered positions; excellent drainage essential—will not tolerate waterlogging; highly sensitive to phosphorus—avoid phosphorus-containing fertilisers
• Planting Density: Groundcover: 1 plant per 2–3 m²; Mass planting: 1.5–2.0 m apart
• Pet Friendly: Yes—non-toxic and safe for pets

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun (essential for best flowering and most compact growth; flowers less in shade)
• Soil: Exceptionally well-drained sandy loam, gravelly soil, or rocky soil; thrives in poor, lean, low-phosphorus soils; excellent in raised beds, rockeries, and containers; will not tolerate heavy clay, waterlogged, or phosphorus-rich soils
• Water Needs:
  • Establishment: Deep soak twice weekly for 6–8 weeks
  • Established: Deep soak every 14–21 days in summer (or less—extremely drought-tolerant); minimal to no watering in winter
• Maintenance: Low maintenance; tip-prune lightly after main flowering flush to maintain compact shape and encourage bushier regrowth (optional—naturally tidy); avoid heavy pruning into old wood; never use standard fertilisers containing phosphorus (causes rapid decline and death)—use low-phosphorus native fertiliser very sparingly only if required; virtually pest and disease-free
• Lifespan: 10–20+ years with proper low-phosphorus care
• Climate Zones: Ideal for Mediterranean and temperate South Australia—Adelaide plains, foothills, Fleurieu Peninsula, sheltered coastal and inland gardens; thrives in hot, dry, exposed sites
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5.5–7.0); tolerates mildly alkaline soils if drainage is excellent

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Mass planting as low groundcover for spectacular late winter–spring red colour
• Rockeries and gravel gardens with excellent drainage
• Cascading over retaining walls, raised beds, or embankments
• Erosion control on slopes and sandy soils—spreading root system stabilizes soil
• Wildlife and bird-attracting gardens for continuous nectar
• Mixed native gardens with prostrate rosemary, lomandra, and kangaroo paw
• Contemporary landscapes paired with gravel, pavers, and architectural hardscaping
• Low-maintenance nature strips and verges in hot, dry areas
• Large containers with excellent drainage for cascading effect
• Habitat corridors and revegetation projects for native bird support

Why You Will Love It

'New Blood' juniper grevillea delivers spectacular blood-red flower power in a low-growing, fast-spreading form with true Australian toughness. Smothered in brilliant red blooms from late winter through spring and beyond, it transforms slopes, rockeries, and embankments into bird-filled colour carpets with minimal fuss. Drought-proof, heat-loving, frost-hardy, and loved by honeyeaters—it's the ultimate native groundcover for water-wise, wildlife-friendly South Australian landscapes.