Grevillea 'Billy Bonkers'

Grevillea 'Billy Bonkers' is a compact, evergreen shrub in the Proteaceae family, bred from Australian native grevillea species. It produces dense clusters of bright pink-red, toothbrush-style flowers nearly year-round in frost-free climates, making it one of the more continuously productive flowering shrubs for warm-zone gardens. The flowers attract hummingbirds and nectar-feeding insects throughout the year.

Grevilleas demand excellent drainage and low-phosphorus soil that mirrors their native Australian habitat. Standard fertilizers containing phosphorus can damage or kill Proteaceae plants; use only products formulated for Australian natives. The plant is highly drought-tolerant once established but benefits from regular water through its first two summers. A light prune by one-third after each flowering flush maintains a compact form and stimulates regrowth. Heavy clay soils and low spots where water pools invite phytophthora root rot, the primary cause of grevillea failure in cultivation.

Aboriginal Australians traditionally harvested nectar from Grevillea flowers of related species by shaking the clusters or sucking directly from the tubes; the nectar is sweet and edible.