Grevillea petrophiloides: Pink Pokers

Grevillea petrophiloides is a Grevillea species that really breaks the typical stereotype. When most people look at it for the first time they could quite easily be forgiven for mistaking it for a bottlebrush or maybe even a Hakea.

Grevillea petrophiloides Plant Features

The plant itself is quite rounded and bushy but where it differs from the “typical Grevillea” appearance is with the long leafless branches, known as canes, that grow above the rest of the bush. The flowers are held quite proudly on the ends of these canes and seem to act like beacons to draw Honeyeaters from some distance.

The plant itself is quite spectacular when in flower and is obviously quite prized as a feature for the garden. 

Ideal Conditions for Growing Grevillea petrophiloides

The downside of this species though is that it is very fussy with its soil requirements. Growing naturally in sandy areas of Western Australia this grevillea requires perfect drainage and detests hot, humid, tropical conditions. If you do live in a desert type environment though, this plant will be much better suited to your conditions.

On the up side though, Grevillea petrophiloides can be grafted onto more reliable rootstock. This one here, growing in my mothers garden, has been growing for about the last 6 or 7 years. I’m not sure what the rootstock is though, it may possibly be Grevillea robusta.

Apart from pruning the canes after flowering, Grevillea petrophiloides require little maintenance or special care. It is a very drought tolerant plant and definitely makes a great feature plant especially when in flower.

Grevillea petrophiloides also has a variant that has creamy coloured flowers as well. I’ve often wondered what these two colour variants of Grevillea petrophiloides would look like growing into each other. The pinky red and the creamy yellow, together, would look interesting indeed.