Grevillea hybrid 'Lemon Daze'

Lemon Daze Grevillea

Botanical Name: Grevillea ‘Lemon Daze’ (hybrid; banksii/pteridifolia lineage)
Family: Proteaceae
Origin: Australia (horticultural hybrid)
Plant Type: Evergreen medium–large shrub

Overview

A sun-loving grevillea smothered in lemon-yellow “toothbrush” flowers for months—especially autumn through spring in Adelaide. Fast and forgiving with fern-like foliage, it’s brilliant for informal screening, feature planting and bird gardens. Performs best in free-draining soils with low-phosphorus care.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 2–3 m H × 1.5–2.5 m W (can be kept ~1.8–2 m with pruning)
• Growth Rate: 30-60 (spread) cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Deeply divided, mid- to grey-green; bronze/copper tints on fresh growth
• Flowers: Large lemon to soft-gold toothbrush racemes (often 12–20 cm); heaviest autumn–spring, with spot blooms year-round in mild seasons
  
• Seasonal Interest: Strong cool-season colour; evergreen structure year-round
• Wildlife Value: Nectar magnet for honeyeaters/lorikeets; bees & other pollinators; shelter for small birds
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established, heat & wind hardy; second-line coastal OK; light frost tolerant (protect from hard frosts in the Hills). Dislikes waterlogging & high phosphorus; on calcareous Adelaide soils may show chlorosis—manage with compost/mulch, mounding and occasional iron chelate
• Planting Density: Informal screen: 1.2–1.8 m apart; Clipped to ~1.8–2 m: 1.0–1.2 m centres; Specimen: 3–4 m from the next large shrub/tree
• Pet Friendly: Generally non-toxic; sap/foliage may irritate sensitive skin—wear gloves when pruning

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun (6+ hrs) for best flowering; light part shade reduces bloom
• Soil: Well-drained sandy/loam; on heavier clays raise/mound to keep crowns dry. Prefers slightly acidic–neutral soils; tolerates slightly alkaline with management
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 2–3 weeks in summer (weekly in heatwaves); minimal in winter
• Maintenance: Tip-prune after flushes to keep dense and encourage more spikes. Hard prune by up to ⅓ in late winter if leggy (avoid cutting into bare old wood). Mulch yearly; feed in spring with a low-P native fertiliser only
• Lifespan: 10–20+ years in well drained sites
• Climate Zones: Temperate & Mediterranean SA—excellent on Adelaide Plains and second-line coastal; choose frost-sheltered spots in the Hills
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic–neutral (tolerates slightly alkaline with care)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Quick informal screen or sunny boundary filler
• Feature shrub with luminous lemon blooms for months
• Bird-attracting native mixes with lomandra, westringia & kangaroo paws
• Hot, water-wise borders and coastal gardens

Why You Will Love It

Long-season lemon blooms, fast growth and constant bird action—tailor-made for Adelaide gardens with sun, drainage and low-P care.