Grevillea hybrid 'Cherry Moon'

Cherry Moon Grevillea

Botanical Name: Grevillea hybrid 'Cherry Moon'
Family: Proteaceae
Origin: Australia (hybrid cultivar)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

Overview

'Cherry Moon' is a free-flowering hybrid grevillea bearing large, showy cherry-red to deep-pink flower clusters almost year-round, drawing honeyeaters and other nectar birds in numbers. Its mid-green foliage forms a dense, rounded shrub that doubles as an informal screen or bird-attracting feature. Hardy, fast-growing and adaptable, it's one of the most rewarding flowering natives for low-water SA gardens.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 1.2-1.5 m H x 1.5 m W
• Growth Rate: Fast; 40–60 cm per year; bushy, spreading and dense with a naturally rounded habit
• Foliage: Mid-green, deeply divided leaves; fine to medium texture; dense year-round cover
• Flowers: Large cherry-red to deep-pink clusters; near year-round with peak autumn through spring; non-fragrant
• Seasonal Interest: Near-continuous flowering; heaviest in the cooler months
• Wildlife Value: Outstanding — a magnet for honeyeaters and lorikeets; supports nectar-feeding birds and bees
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established; frost hardy to moderate; heat-tolerant; wind-tolerant; coastal-tolerant (second-line); clay-tolerant if well-drained
• Planting Density: Informal screen: 1.5–2 m apart; mass planting: 1–1.5 m apart; feature: 2–2.5 m clearance
• Pet Friendly: Generally non-toxic, but grevillea foliage and flowers can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive pets and people — discourage chewing

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun for best flowering; tolerates light shade
• Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or clay loam; avoid phosphorus-rich fertilisers and waterlogging
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks per week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 2–3 weeks in summer (weekly in heatwaves); seldom in winter unless prolonged dry.
• Maintenance: Light prune after main flushes to keep dense; avoid cutting into old bare wood; use low-phosphorus native fertiliser only; mulch in spring
• Lifespan: 15–25 years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean SA — Adelaide metro, Hills fringe and second-line coastal
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5.5–7.0)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Bird-attracting and habitat gardens as a key mid-storey shrub
• Informal flowering screen along boundaries
• Low-water native borders with lomandra, westringia and kangaroo paw

Why You Will Love It

'Cherry Moon' keeps the colour coming when little else is flowering — big cherry-red blooms, constant bird activity and fast, fuss-free growth make it a standout performer in any water-wise SA garden.