groundcover

New Blood Grevillea

The Story

Plant Bio

Grevillea is a diverse genus of evergreen Australian shrubs and trees belonging to the Proteaceae family, characterised by their highly modified, petal-less flowers. The ornamental display relies on elongated, colourful styles that emerge from a fused perianth tube, forming dense clusters that attract nectar-feeding birds.

'New Blood' is a compact, low-growing groundcover cultivar bred in Australia from a self-pollinated hybrid of Grevillea juniperina and Grevillea rhyolitica. It produces fine-textured, needle-like green foliage and clusters of deep crimson-red spider-like flowers that bloom from autumn through spring, and sporadically during summer.

Uses & Benefits:

Dense, fine-textured green foliage blanketed by bright crimson-red spider-like flowers.

Acts as an effective weed-suppressing groundcover with high drought tolerance once established.

Provides a rich source of nectar for native honeyeaters, spinebills, bees, and butterflies.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Groundcover

Height

12 inches

Width

59 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

8, 9, 10

Water

Low

Humidity

Low (dislikes high humidity)

Lifespan

10-15 years

Native To

Australia (horticultural origin)

Toxicity

Skin irritant

Bloom period

Autumn – Summer

In flower about 10 months of the year

Planting

How to Grow

Select a planting site in full sun to light shade with highly permeable, well-drained sandy loam or clay-loam soil.
Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball, and if planting in heavy clay, mound the soil or use raised beds to prevent waterlogging.
Gently remove the plant from its pot, place it in the hole at the same depth as the pot soil, and backfill without burying the stem.
Water in thoroughly to settle the soil, and apply a low-phosphorus native-specific slow-release fertiliser around the base in spring.

Pro Tip

Never prune hard into old, leafless brown wood as it lacks dormant buds to reshoot; instead, limit maintenance to light tip-pruning of green, leafy growth immediately after a flowering flush.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant in highly well-drained soil or on a mound to prevent root rot.
Apply a low-phosphorus native-specific fertiliser once a year in spring.
Wear gloves and long sleeves when handling the foliage to avoid skin irritation.

Don't

Do not prune hard into old, bare wood as the plant will not reshoot.
Do not use general-purpose garden fertilisers containing high phosphorus, which causes severe leaf chlorosis and toxicity.
Do not allow the plant to sit in waterlogged soil or poorly drained basins.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Fertilize
Pest Check
Plant
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

GroundcoverRock gardensCoastal gardensEmbankmentsLow-maintenance borders

Companion Plants

Anigozanthos flavidus Westringia fruticosa Correa reflexa

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

New Blood Grevillea questions

What zones can New Blood Grevillea grow in?

New Blood Grevillea is hardy in USDA Zones 8–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

When does New Blood Grevillea bloom?

New Blood Grevillea typically blooms in autumn through summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does New Blood Grevillea need full sun?

New Blood Grevillea does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is New Blood Grevillea drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), New Blood Grevillea handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.