I am often asked for a
plant for
quick screens. While it fulfills this need well Silky Oak has its plusses and minuses.
Grevillea robusta is very quick often
reaching 30' or more in under 5 years. It requires little or no additional water
after it is established. The Grevillea robusta blooms are an interesting highlight in mid to late
spring. The fernlike leaves are grey on the bottom and green above and catch the
light nicely in the wind. Then there are the minuses. Grevillea
robusta drops stuff.
Lots of stuff from branches to buckets of leaves. Silky Oak should be relegated
to an area
that accumulated debris is not a problem. Otherwise you have planted an ongoing
future chore. Grevillea robusta will rapidly shade out the lower branches often exposing that which was
intended to be screened. I use Grevillea robusta often in young
landscapes, but with a mind to its demise. I will
plant both a fast growing tree and a slow one planning to take out the
rabbit once the tortoise gets established. During the blooming
period I often see orioles and hummingbirds. This is a great tree
for the hummingbird garden.
Click here to purchase Grevillea robusta and other Australian Plants
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of Grevillea robusta are available.
