Monday, October 28, 2013

G .....more of our lovely wildflowers.

Gompholobium confertum is a small shrub, native to Western Australia,  and is a member of the family Fabaceae and begins its flowering period at the end of winter - August, with its optimum flowering at the beginning of summer - December.  It continues through autumn showing its blue/purple flowers across the southwest of Western Australia from Jurien in the north of the Swan coastal plain to Esperance on the south coast.  It has an erect habit and grows to 1.2m high.  Its habitat preference is sand, sometimes over laterite, in undulating plains and winter-wet areas.





Grevillea pinaster is a shrub in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to southwestern Western Australia. It grows to between 0.5 and 3 metres in height and has a peak flowering period between May and September (late autumn to early spring) in its native range.  The flowers are pink to red with yellowish-tipped styles.  The long and narrow leaves are 20 to 55 mm long and 1-2 mm wide.  This species occurs in a small area from north of Eneabba to Bindi Bindi.  Plants labelled as Grevillea stenomera in plant nurseries are often forms of, or hybrids of this species.


Most folk that grow native species in their gardens here often have a variety of different grevilleas as they attract native birds.  A cultivar, Robyn Gordon, is very popular with home gardeners in Perth:


Unfortunately some folk find that if their skin comes in contact with this grevillea they come out in a rash.  A friend of mine (now long gone unfortunately) had that problem and when she and I where away on a camping trip about 15+ years back she saw some grevilleas growing in a garden and actually thrust her arm into one of the bushes just so she could show me how she came up in a rash!!  She was one of those people... a real 'nutcase' that would always have you laughing at her antics).

10 comments:

  1. In my opinion the world needs more nut cases lol.

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  2. I couldn't agree more Delores. I do miss Judy. She was a person you could fall out quite easily, with but I always decided our friendship was important to me so I'd just allow her to let off steam and take it from there. I first met her when I was 12 so a long and lasting friendship.

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  3. Oh Mimsie that is good about the underground power we had an icestorm in Ontario Canada in 1998 and it toppled over electric power lines everywhere we were without power for five day but some people were without it for over a month it was in the middle of the coldest winter. Underground is the way to go.
    Your friend did she ever get the rash:) she sounds like an interesting never boring friend to hang out with:) Hug B

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    1. Yes we are thrilled about the underground power and the thought that at least tree in our street will cause problems during storms in future.
      Yes, Judy did come up with a tiny rash but fortunately not too bad and it went after a day or two. : )

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  4. Nut cases are the best friends to have.
    I love grevillieas and have four or five different ones here. And any plant which grows on sand is deserving of respect.

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    1. Plants need to be able to grow in sand on the coastal areas of southwest Australia. Our own garden is JUST sand. You can pour compost into it for years and it just sinks right down and you're left with sand again.
      I don't have any nutty friends now and life is much duller.

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  5. Hari Om
    Love the 'gomph..' and it arises from "F" family. Poetic segue you had there my dear! I have heard about the grevillea rash, but thankfully don't have that trouble. They are such gorgeous blooms.

    Some would tell you I AM that crazy friend.... &*> But I have a couple of them myself. Hugs, YAM xx

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    1. Well I'd not thought of all the poetic bit.
      I think you may just qualify too Yam. They are great to have. Wish I had some these days but they're all gone now.

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  6. I love grevilleas and would plant a whole garden if I could, but I've never heard of grevillea rash. I'd better be careful in case it goes along with hayfever, both being a plant based allergy.

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    1. On Wikipedia it says that Grevillea banksii and "Robyn Gordon" are the two that cause contact dermatitis as well as other plants in different parts of the world. If you want to grow them I guess they are the two to stay away from if you have sensitive skin. The don't affect me for which I am very thankful.

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