STANDARD / Grevillea 'Black Shiraz'
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Weeping Standard Grevillea ‘Black Shiraz’
Botanical Name: Grevillea ‘Black Shiraz’ — Standard (grafted/trained)
Family: Proteaceae
Origin: Australia (garden hybrid; selected for very dark flower colouring)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub—standard form (single trunk with rounded to gently weeping canopy)
Overview
Grevillea ‘Black Shiraz’ is a dramatic and highly sought-after grevillea, trained as a standard to form a compact feature tree with a sculptural, elevated canopy. Exceptionally well suited to Adelaide’s Mediterranean climate, it is prized for its unusually dark flowers — deep wine, burgundy and near-black tones — a rare colour range among grevilleas.
Flowering mainly from late winter through spring, with sporadic blooms at other times of year, ‘Black Shiraz’ provides bold contrast, strong architectural form and outstanding bird appeal. Once established, it is drought tolerant, heat hardy and low maintenance, making it ideal for courtyards, pathways, pots and feature plantings where a striking native statement is desired.
Key Features
- Mature Size: 1.5–2.5 m H × 1.5–2.5 m W (overall height depends on graft/stem height; canopy typically 0.8–1.2 m wide)
- Growth Rate: 30-60 cm per year under good conditions
- Foliage: Fine-textured evergreen foliage; mid- to deep-green leaves with bronze to copper tones on new growth
- Flowers: Distinctive deep maroon to very dark burgundy-black spider-style blooms with pale pollen tips; nectar-rich; peak flowering late winter–spring with occasional off-season flowers
- Fragrance: Not fragrant
- Seasonal Interest: Evergreen structure year-round with dramatic winter–spring flowering and coloured new growth
- Wildlife Value: Excellent nectar source for honeyeaters, native birds, bees and other pollinators
- Tolerance: Drought tolerant once established; very heat tolerant; wind tolerant; second-line coastal tolerant; light–moderate frost hardy (young plants benefit from protection in exposed frost-prone sites)
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Planting Density: Feature or avenue planting: space 1.5–2.5 m apart to allow full canopy development
- Pet Friendly: Generally considered non-toxic; sap may irritate sensitive skin — wear gloves when pruning
Where It Works Best
- Sunlight: Full sun for strongest flowering and darkest flower colour; tolerates light part shade
- Soil: Well-drained sandy, loamy or improved clay soils; avoid waterlogging; use low-phosphorus native fertiliser only
- Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer (weekly in heatwaves); monthly in winter if dry
- Maintenance: Low — light tip-pruning after flowering to maintain a neat, rounded canopy; remove internal or crossing branches; mulch annually
- Lifespan: 10–20+ years in well-drained sites
- Climate Zones: Ideal for Mediterranean and temperate South Australia — Adelaide Plains, Fleurieu Peninsula, sheltered coastal suburbs
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral; tolerates mildly alkaline soils if free draining
Landscape & Design Ideas
- Feature standard for courtyards, entrances and focal points
- Formal or semi-formal rows along paths and driveways
- Large pots for patios and alfresco spaces
- Bird-friendly native gardens with lomandra, westringia and callistemon
- High-contrast accent plant in modern and Mediterranean-style landscapes
Why You Will Love It
Standard Grevillea ‘Black Shiraz’ delivers rare, near-black floral colour, refined structure and strong bird appeal in a compact, waterwise form. Tough, low maintenance and visually striking, it’s an exceptional statement plant for Adelaide gardens seeking something genuinely different.