Grevillea aquifolium aka Grevillea Aquifolium

Grevillea aquifolium is a shrub that stays green all year. It belongs to the Proteaceae family. Common names include holly grevillea and prickly grevillea. The RHS also calls it variable prickly grevillea. It comes from just two states in Australia. These are South Australia and Victoria. It is not native to Britain, Ireland, or Oregon. The name aquifolium refers to the shape of its leaves. They look like the leaves of English holly. This likeness also gives the shrub one of its common names.

The plant can form ground cover or an upright shrub. Some plants spread low, while others grow straight up. Oregon State gives a height of about 3 feet [0.9 metres]. It does not give a width for a full-grown plant. These forms matter when you choose a plant for your garden. The species name alone does not tell you its shape. Its leaves stay green past the spring flower season. The broad, oval leaves reach about 2.8 inches [7 centimetres] long. Their edges have waves and sharp, prickly teeth. Hairs grow on the backs of the leaves. These hairs offer one more way to help identify the plant.

The plant blooms in spring at the tips of branches. Short side branches can bear groups of flowers too. These groups are racemes, with blooms along just one side. This brush-like shape gives rise to the term toothbrush grevillea. Oregon State says red is the usual flower colour. Some plants have yellowish-green flowers instead of red ones. The leaf edges and flower shape both help set it apart. The prickly leaves look like holly leaves. They contrast with the one-sided groups of spring blooms.

In gardens, it grows in sun or part shade. Oregon State calls for soil that drains well. It also says climates with dry summers suit it best. Low forms can serve as ground cover in such sites. Upright forms serve as small shrubs that stay green year-round. Oregon State gives USDA Zone 8 as a possible cold limit. Its question mark means this rating is not certain. The accounts give no facts on this species' fruit or edible parts. They do not assess whether it is toxic. They also give no details of pests or diseases.