What to Plant with Grevillea: A Comprehensive Native Companion Planting Guide

A Comprehensive Native Companion Planting Guide

Well Drained Soil and Poor Nutrient Quality

Grevilleas generally thrive best in sandy soils with poor nutrient quality. Their roots have evolved to extract scarce nutrients, particularly phosphorous, effectively. Therefore, any companion plants should also be able to survive with little or no feeding.

Native fertilisers can be applied as they have low phosphorous content. Some companion plants may appreciate a liquid fish emulsion foliar application, which provides phosphorous without affecting nearby Proteaceae members like grevillea.

Light and Water Requirements

Grevillea plants enjoy full sun but may tolerate partial shade. They’re also generally drought-resistant once established, needing only occasional deep watering during prolonged dry periods. These characteristics should be considered when choosing companion plants.

For instance, grevillea can provide shade for understory plants that prefer less direct sunlight. But you wouldn’t put a thirsty plant in the same bed for fear that you may drown your grevilleas, unless you have soil which is very free-draining.

Growth Habit

Grevilleas exhibit a wide range of growth habits, always with evergreen foliage and their typical spider like flowers. They can be prostrate ground covers, grafted standards, shrubby bushes, or even giant trees in the case of Grevillea robusta.

Companion plants should be chosen based on the specific grevillea variety you’re growing to ensure they complement each other in size and shape.

Floral Display

Grevilleas are well-known for their spectacular inflorescences. These can vary greatly between species and variety but are typically large, brightly coloured, and rich in nectar.

In the wild, these native plants usually bloom in winter and spring, although some cultivars can flower throughout most of the year. The continuous floral display can provide a vibrant aesthetic to your garden and attract a variety of pollinators.

Once the flowers are pollinated, they mature into a dry fruit with seeds that are highly sought after by native fauna including many birds. These seeds are related to macadamias which are in the same family.

What to Plant with Grevilleas

When choosing appropriate companions for grevillea, we should remember that broad classifications such as genus or species may not be sufficient when selecting companion plants.

Different varieties within these classifications can have vastly different needs and behaviours, so always read the plant label to check for compatibility with your garden’s conditions. For example, some cultivars have been bred with superior drought tolerance and reduced nutritional requirements compared with their wild relatives.

Some grevilleas are prostrate ground covers. Others are small or medium shrubs, and Grevillea robusta is a species within the genus that grows as a tall tree. Some like cold weather, while others prefer warmer humid climates. Some are more adaptbale to a range of conditions than others.

In this section, we’ll explore a number of native Australian plants natives which make excellent companions for your grevillea plant.

Banksia spp.

Banksia is a genus in the Proteaceae family, just like Grevillea. They share a preference for well-drained, sandy soils and low phosphorous levels. Both banksia and grevillea have evolved to thrive in Australia’s nutrient-poor soils, meaning they can coexist comfortably without competing for resources as long as adequate space between each plant is provided.

Callistemon spp.

Callistemon, commonly known as bottlebrush due to its distinctive flowers, makes a great companion for grevillea. They have similar light requirements, both enjoying full sun, but their growth habits, leaf shape, and flowers provide a pleasing contrast.

While some cultivars of both grevillea and callistemon can flower throughout the year, many wild types of grevillea will only flower in the cooler months, while many callistemons will only flower in the warmer months. This alternating floral display can create year-round interest in your garden.

Eucalypts (Eucalypt, Corymbia and Angophora spp.)

Eucalypts are excellent companions for grevillea due to their shared water needs and ecological roles. Most grevilleas are prostrate ground covers or shrubs, with the exception of Grevillea robusta which is a tall tree.

Where you’re using smaller grevilleas, eucalypts can provide height and work as a feature within your garden design.

Acacia (Wattles)

Acacia, commonly known as wattle, is another fantastic companion for grevillea. Acacia’s adaptability to poor soils and drought tolerance make it an ideal companion for grevillea.

On top of this, acacia has the ability to fix nitrogen, making it a beneficial addition to garden beds that aren’t regularly fertilised.

Lilly Pilly (Acmena, Syzygium, and Waterhousea)

Lilly pillies are compatible with similar soils as many grevilleas and their lush leaves provide a beautiful contrast to grevillea’s needle-like or pinnatisect leaves. This contrast can add depth and interest to your garden design.

While lilly pillies can tolerate low nutrient levels, they will appreciate a good feed of native fertiliser, but will prefer a full spectrum NPK ratio unlike grevilleas.

Dianella (Flax Lilies)

Dianella, or flax lilies, flourish in a range of soil types, including low-fertility soils, making them an excellent companion for grevillea. Their flowers provide a food source for native buzz pollinators such as blue banded bees, contributing to local biodiversity.

Dianella can be mass planted as a ground cover, providing a lush understorey beneath taller shrubs and trees.

Correa (Native Fuchsias)

Correa, also known as native fuchsia, is well-suited to the same conditions as grevillea, making them excellent companions. Both plants tolerate poor soils and prefer well-drained conditions.

The similar foliage colour can provide rhythm in your garden design, while the contrasting leaf shapes add visual interest. Correas often begin flowering in autumn, right through to spring. This means that throughout winter, both plants will be in full bloom, providing a colourful spectacle during the cooler months while other plants are dormant.

Westringia (Australian Rosemary)

Westringia, commonly referred to as Australian rosemary, is another great companion for grevillea. Its drought tolerance and adaptability to various soil conditions, including poor soil nutrition, make it a suitable match.

Like grevillea, westringia can thrive in challenging conditions, making them a resilient pairing in your garden.

Lomandra (Mat Rushes)

Lomandra, also known as mat rushes, are minimal-care plants that thrive in poor soils, making them an ideal companion for grevillea. Besides their suitability to similar conditions, lomandras support native beetle pollinators and other fauna like native ants which love their seeds.

Mass planting of lomandras provides habitat for a range of native fauna, including birds who find refuge in the dense thicket of strappy leaves and spiky inflorescences.

Lomandras all share a common clumping growth habit with strappy leaves, but their sizes can vary a lot so there’s a lomandra for your garden no matter the available space.

Olearia (Native Daisy Bushes)

Olearia, commonly known as native daisy bushes, are suited to coastal conditions and low-nutrient soils, much like grevillea. Their ability to create ground cover makes them an excellent companion, especially for garden designs that aim to reduce soil erosion or suppress weed growth.

Why use boring mulch when you can opt for a living ground cover instead?

Scaevola (Fan Flowers)

Scaevola, commonly referred to as fan flowers, with their low watering needs and full sun preference, can be a good companion for grevillea. Both plants appreciate well-drained soil and plenty of sunshine, making them an excellent pair in a drought-tolerant or xeriscape garden.

The vibrant, fan-shaped white or blue-purple flowers of scaevola can also provide a nice contrast to the intricate blooms of grevillea.

Pennisetum (Fountain Grass)

Pennisetum, or fountain grass, shares similar growing conditions with grevillea. They both enjoy full sun and well-drained soils.

he height and texture of fountain grass can provide an interesting contrast to the sprawling nature of prostrate grevilleas. Additionally, their different blooming periods can ensure that your garden has visual interest throughout the year, with Pennisetum plumes in full show from summer through autumn.

Carpobrotus (Pig Face)

Carpobrotus, commonly known as pig face or ice plant, is a suitable companion for grevillea due to its similar cultural requirements. Both plants are drought-tolerant and prefer well-drained soil, making them an excellent pair in arid or Mediterranean climates.

The succulent leaves of Carpobrotus contrast nicely with the needle-like foliage of grevillea, creating a visually appealing texture in your garden. The vibrant flowers of Carpobrotus can add a burst of colour that is sometimes lacking in native garden designs.

As a ground cover, Carpobrotus can protect the soil surface from erosion caused by rain droplets. However, it’s important to note that its root system is relatively shallow and the foliage is quite heavy due to their succulent nature. Planting them on steep slopes may not be advisable as they could potentially roll down.

Hardenbergia (Coral Peas)

Hardenbergia, commonly known as coral pea, has a resilience in low-nutrient soils and dry conditions that makes it an excellent companion for grevillea. Similar to acacia, hardenbergia has the ability to fix nitrogen, which can enrich the soil and benefit neighbouring plants.

This nitrogen isn’t a problem for grevilleas like too much phosphorous can be.

However, as climbers, hardenbergia will naturally seek to climb up your grevillea. This co-existence can create an interesting vertical display in your garden, but it’s a good idea to monitor this interaction. Over-enthusiastic climbing can potentially smother the host plant and impair its growth, or even just lead to a scrappy, unkempt appearance.

With that being said, climbing plants on your grevillea can provide additional habitat for small birds and insects, enhancing local biodiversity. So it’s really up to you whether you want to encourage or discourage this climbing action.

Allocasuarina and Casuarina (Sheoaks)

Allocasuarina and Casuarina, commonly known as sheoaks, are another group of plants that can grow well with grevillea. Their tolerance of poor soils and drought resistance, along with their ability to fix nitrogen, make them suitable companions for grevillea.

Hymenosporum (Native Frangipani)

Hymenosporum, also known as native frangipani, is adaptable to a range of soil types, including low-fertility soils. This makes it a suitable companion for grevillea. Its fragrant flowers can also add another layer of sensory experience to your garden.

Tristaniopsis (Water Gum)

Tristaniopsis are trees in the Myrtaceae family which originate along the east coast of Australia. They perform well in a range of soil types, from free-draining to clay-dominant as long as they get adequate water. Small, yellow flowers appear in summer along with foliage that starts out red, turning green as the weather cools and leaves mature.

Podocarpus (Podocarps)

Podocarpus, often referred to as podocarps, can adapt to a range of soils, including low-nutrient soils, making it a compatible companion for grevillea.

While they can tolerate nutrient-poor soils, they do benefit from a good feed. To fertilise podocarpus without harming your grevillea, consider using a foliar application of liquid fish emulsion. This method provides nutrients directly to the leaves, reducing the risk of root burn that can occur with granular fertilisers near grevilleas.

Grevillea

Different varieties of grevillea can provide rhythm in your garden, each bringing a variety of leaf shapes, growth habits, and floral displays. For instance, you could pair a ground-hugging grevillea with a taller, shrubby variety to create layers of interest. Alternatively, combining grevilleas with contrasting flower colours can create a vibrant and dynamic display.

The Ecological Benefits of Companion Planting with Grevillea

Beyond the aesthetic appeal, companion planting with grevillea can yield significant ecological benefits. By carefully selecting companion plants, you can create a garden that not only thrives but also contributes positively to local ecosystems.

Nectar, Pollen, Fruits and Seeds

Companion planting can attract a variety of pollinators to your garden, attracting a wider variety of native fauna to your garden. Many varieties of grevillea are pollinated by generalist insect pollinators and birds, particularly honeyeaters, which are attracted to their nectar-rich flowers.

On the other hand, some companions like dianella and lomandra are pollinated by other insects that may not be supported by your grevillea. By planting these together, you can create a garden that offers a variety of food sources, attracting diverse pollinators and increasing the overall ecological value of your garden.

Once flowers have been pollinated, they’ll mature into some type of fruit and seed which can then provide another food resource for our native fauna.

Providing Habitat

Grevilleas and their companions can provide habitat for various fauna, contributing to local biodiversity. Ground covers like carpobrotus and brachyscome offer shelter for small creatures like lizards and beneficial insects. Meanwhile, taller shrubs and trees such as eucalypts and allocasuarina can provide nesting sites for birds.

By creating layers of vegetation – from ground covers to tall trees – you can mimic the structure of natural habitats, offering refuge and resources for a range of fauna.

Incorporating Grevillea and Its Companions into Landscape Design

Successfully incorporating grevillea and its companions into your landscape design involves understanding their growth habits and visual characteristics. This knowledge can guide you in creating a balanced and harmonious garden.

Considering Growth Habits

The growth habits of grevillea and its companions can influence their placement and role in your landscape design. For instance, ground-hugging grevilleas and other low-growing plants like scaevola or carpobrotus are excellent for front-of-border plantings or covering large areas of ground.

On the other hand, taller grevilleas and other shrubs like westringia or callistemon can provide structure and height in your garden. They can be used as specimen plants, privacy screens, or windbreaks.

Climbers like hardenbergia can add a vertical element to your garden, either growing on trellises or fences, or allowed to scramble over other plants. Incorporating a variety of growth habits not only adds visual interest but also helps create diverse microhabitats within your garden.

Balancing Visual Appeal

Achieving a visually appealing garden involves considering the colours, shapes, and sizes of grevillea and its companions. Grevillea flowers come in a range of colours – from vibrant reds and oranges to soft creams and pinks – and can be paired with companions with complementary or contrasting flower colours.

Similarly, the fine, feathery foliage of many grevilleas contrasts beautifully with the broader leaves of plants like lilly pilly or the strappy leaves of dianella. Remember to also consider the size of your plants at maturity to ensure they fit well within your garden space and don’t compete with each other.

Daniel’s Wrap

Understanding the needs of grevillea and its companions is key to successful companion planting. It allows you to create a garden that is not only visually pleasing but also ecologically beneficial, enhancing local biodiversity through increased pollination and habitat provision.

So log off your computer, head on down to your local nursery, and pick up some companion plants to install nearby your grevillea. Or, why not simply head online to a retailer that will ship plants directly to your door?