Native Trees

Silky oak — Grevillea robusta

Grevillea robusta

Food for native birds Host plant for butterflies and insects Pollinator favourite Shelter for wildlife Showy flowers Resilient garden plant

$8.00

In stock and ready for local pickup or delivery

Pickup from Worongary or delivery across the Gold Coast and nearby areas. Delivery options are shown at checkout.

Plant profile

At a glance

The essentials for finding the right garden position.

Mature size: Height: 15–30 m · Width: 8–15 m
Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water: Moist, Seasonally wet
Soil: Loamy, Clay, Rocky
Drainage: Poorly drained
Vegetation type: Wetlands / Swamps / Creek Margins, Dry Eucalypt, Wet Eucalypt, Rainforest
Plant lifespan: Long-lived perennial
Plant form: Trees

Plant ratings

A quick guide to this plant’s value for wildlife and the garden.

Bird food value
Host plant value
Pollinator value
Shelter & habitat value
Flower display
Garden resilience

About this plant

Silky oak brings the scale and character of the local landscape into a larger garden setting. Large golden-orange toothbrush-like flower clusters provide nectar and are followed by dark leathery seed follicles. Use it where its tall canopy and finely divided foliage can become a lasting part of a layered, wildlife-friendly garden.

Image credits:
Mature image: MarioM via Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 3.0
Feature image: Alvesgaspar via Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 3.0

More plant details

Garden uses: Habitat tree, shade or canopy planting, restoration-style garden and layered wildlife corridor; especially suited to sites reflecting Wetlands / Swamps / Creek Margins, Dry Eucalypt, Wet Eucalypt, Rainforest.
Wildlife value: Grevillea robusta offers a strong nectar and/or pollen resource, typically with conspicuous or abundant flowers that support a broad pollinator community. Grevillea robusta provides a strong nectar resource for honeyeaters and other nectar-feeding birds. Grevillea robusta provides useful tree structure for cover, perching and movement through a layered garden.
Flowering and fruiting: Large golden-orange toothbrush-like flower clusters provide nectar and are followed by dark woody follicles.
Growth habit: Woody tree contributing canopy or mid-storey structure; indicative mature size 15–30 m × 8–15 m.
Cautions: A very large, fast-growing tree; flowers and sawdust can irritate sensitive skin.