A sortable reference for comparing Grevillea 'Dorothy Gordon' with other popular Grevillea cultivars used in Australian gardens.
📌 Quick Reference
Best for: Wildlife gardens, informal hedges, screening, feature planting
Botanical Type: Evergreen Australian native shrub
Mature Size: ~3 m high × 2 m wide
Flowering: Nearly year-round
Sun: Full sun (best flowering), tolerates light part shade
Water: Moderate while establishing → drought tolerant afterwards
Soil: Free-draining sandy or loamy soils, low phosphorus
Maintenance: Low
Bird Attraction: Excellent
Suitable For: Native gardens • Coastal gardens • Privacy screening • Pollinator gardens
Data compiled and expanded from this guide: grevillea dorothy gordon
| Cultivar | Mature Size | Flower Colour | Flowering | Growth Rate | Bird Attraction | Drought Tolerance | Frost Tolerance | Hedge Suitability | Feature Plant | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorothy Gordon | 3 × 2 m | Mauve-purple | Nearly year-round | Fast | Excellent | High | Light frost | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Hedge, wildlife garden |
| Robyn Gordon | 2 × 2 m | Red | Long flowering | Fast | Excellent | High | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Feature shrub |
| Sandra Gordon | 3 × 2.5 m | Orange-red | Most of year | Fast | Excellent | High | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Large hedge |
| Superb | 4 × 4 m | Orange-yellow | Most seasons | Fast | Excellent | High | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Screening |
| Moonlight | 4 × 4 m | Cream-white | Nearly year-round | Fast | Excellent | High | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Large feature |
| Honey Gem | 5 × 4 m | Orange-gold | Long flowering | Fast | Excellent | High | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Large gardens |
| Peaches and Cream | 2 × 2 m | Pink-cream | Long flowering | Moderate | Excellent | High | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Feature planting |
| Pink Surprise | 2 × 2 m | Bright pink | Long flowering | Fast | Excellent | High | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Cottage gardens |
| Scarlet Sprite | 0.5 × 1.5 m | Scarlet red | Long flowering | Moderate | Excellent | High | Moderate | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Groundcover |
| Bronze Rambler | 0.3 × 4 m | Red | Spring–summer | Fast | Excellent | High | Moderate | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Banks & slopes |
| Coastal Gem | 2 × 2 m | Pink-red | Most seasons | Moderate | Excellent | High | High | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Coastal gardens |
| Winpara Gem | 2 × 2 m | Orange | Long flowering | Moderate | Excellent | High | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Native beds |
| Fireworks | 1 × 2 m | Red-yellow | Most seasons | Moderate | Excellent | Moderate | Moderate | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Accent planting |
| Jelly Baby | 0.8 × 1.5 m | Pink-red | Long flowering | Moderate | Excellent | Moderate | Moderate | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Containers |
| Ivanhoe | 4 × 4 m | Pink-red | Seasonal | Fast | Excellent | High | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Windbreak |
| Ned Kelly | 2 × 2 m | Deep red | Long flowering | Moderate | Excellent | High | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Wildlife gardens |
| Coconut Ice | 2 × 2 m | Cream-pink | Long flowering | Moderate | Excellent | High | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Feature shrub |
| Billy Bonkers | 0.6 × 1.5 m | Red-orange | Long flowering | Moderate | Excellent | High | Moderate | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Small gardens |
| Pink Midget | 0.4 × 1.2 m | Pink | Long flowering | Moderate | Excellent | Moderate | Moderate | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Pots |
| Forest Rambler | 0.5 × 5 m | Red | Spring | Fast | Excellent | High | Moderate | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Groundcover |
| Condition | Ideal |
|---|---|
| Sun | Full sun |
| Shade tolerance | Light afternoon shade |
| Soil texture | Sandy, gravelly, loam |
| Drainage | Excellent |
| Soil fertility | Low |
| Phosphorus | Low only |
| Mulch | Yes (keep away from stem) |
| Water after establishment | Low |
| Humidity | Moderate |
| Wind | Good tolerance |
| Coastal exposure | Suitable |
| Goal | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Bird garden | ⭐ Dorothy Gordon |
| Native hedge | ⭐ Dorothy Gordon |
| Privacy screen | Superb, Moonlight, Honey Gem |
| Small garden | Jelly Baby, Pink Midget |
| Feature shrub | Dorothy Gordon, Peaches and Cream |
| Pollinator garden | Dorothy Gordon |
| Low maintenance | Dorothy Gordon |
| Coastal garden | Coastal Gem |
| Fast screening | Dorothy Gordon, Superb |
| Dry garden | Dorothy Gordon |
| Season | Water | Fertiliser | Pruning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Moderate | Native low-P fertiliser | Tip prune after flowering | Main growth period |
| Summer | Low | None | Light shaping | Drought tolerant once established |
| Autumn | Low | Optional light feed | Remove damaged growth | Prepare for cooler weather |
| Winter | Minimal | None | Remove dead wood | Protect young plants from frost |
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow leaves | Poor drainage | Improve drainage |
| Poor flowering | Insufficient sun | Move to sunnier location |
| Slow growth | Heavy soil | Improve drainage |
| Root rot | Waterlogging | Plant in raised beds |
| Aphids | Soft new growth | Eco-oil or insecticidal soap |
| Frost damage | Young plants | Mulch and frost cloth |
| Sparse growth | Lack of pruning | Tip prune regularly |
| Burnt foliage | Excess phosphorus | Use native fertiliser only |
| Characteristic | Dorothy Gordon |
|---|---|
| Flower Display | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Wildlife Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hedge Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Drought Resistance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Beginner Friendly | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Maintenance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Screening Ability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Coastal Suitability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Frost Tolerance | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Container Growing | ⭐⭐ |