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Red Spider Flower

Its genus name Grevillea is named after Charles Francis Greville, co-founder of the Royal Horticultural Society, and its species name speciosa means showy, referring to its foliage.

Evergreen shrub, grows up to 3 m tall.

Leaves

Oval shaped with silvery hairs on underside. They are 1 – 5 cm long and 4 – 12 mm wide.

Flowers

Bright red, or occasionally pink, and spider-like in appearance. Each “spider leg” is 2 – 4 cm long and forms in a loose circle on a stalk. The flower heads are approximately 7 cm in diameter and grow at the end of branches or amongst leaves.

Fruits/Seeds

Smooth and hairless follicles, they are oval in shape and 12 – 20 mm long.

Field Guide

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  • Species Category: Plants
  • Species origin: Native
  • Conservation status: Common

  • What to Observe

    • First fully open single flower

    • Full flowering (record all days)

    • End of flowering (when 95% of the flowers have faded)

    • Open seed pods/follicles (record all days)

  • When and Where

    When To Look

    • From late winter through spring
    • Flowers mainly appear from July to October but can sporadically appear throughout the year
    • Follicles appear after flowers

    Where To Look

    • Endemic to the Sydney region, from Gosford, Kulnura and Bucketty on the NSW Central Coast south to Port Jackson
    • Look in heathlands around Sydney, particularly on the sandstone plateaus north of the harbour
    • In heath or woodland, usually in sandy soils on sandstone

  • What Else?

    Similar Species

    Grevillea oleoides has longer leaves (5 – 14 cm long).
  • Trails: Australian National Botanic Gardens ACT, North Head NSW
  • Species Region: Australia