Grevillea rosmarinifolia (Rosemary Grevillea) is a plant of the family Proteaceae

Proteaceae

Proteaceae is a family of flowering plants distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises about 80 genera with about 1600 species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae they make up the order Proteales. Well known genera include Protea, Banksia, Embothrium, Grevillea,...

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Description

Grevillea rosmarinifolia usually occurs as a small to medium, shrub to 0.3–2 meters high.

The leaves resemble rosemary

Rosemary

Rosemary, , is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, which includes many other herbs, and is one of two species in the genus Rosmarinus...

 - narrow-linear, stiff with sharp points and curled-under margins, 0.8-3.8 cm long and 0.7–3 mm wide.

G. rosmarinifolia produces clusters of red or pink flowers from winter to spring. The flowers are rich in nectar and attract nectarivorous insects and birds.

Taxonomy

It was first described by Allan Cunningham

Allan Cunningham (botanist)

Allan Cunningham was an English botanist and explorer, primarily known for his travels in New South Wales to collect plants.- Early life :...

, an English botanist on an expedition in New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

. There are two currently recognised subspecies:

• G. rosmarinifolia subsp. glabella (R.Br.) Makinson
• G. rosmarinifolia A.Cunn. subsp.rosmarinifolia

Distribution and habitat

It is native to New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

 and Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

, and has naturalised in South Australia

South Australia

South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...

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G. rosmarinifolia prefers full sun. It is frost and drought tolerant.

Cultivars

A large number of cultivars have been selected including the following:

• "Anakie', a form from Anakie, Victoria
  Anakie, Victoria
  Anakie is a rural township between Geelong, Victoria, and Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia. At the 2006 census, Anakie and the surrounding area had a population of 674. The name is believed to be derived from 'Anakie Youang', an expression in one of the local Australian Aboriginal languages,...
  
  
• 'Aromas', a form cultivated in the USA
• 'Aurea'
• 'Coral'
• 'Desert Flame'
• 'Hurstbridge', a form from Hurstbridge, Victoria
  Hurstbridge, Victoria
  Hurstbridge is a semi-rural town in Victoria, Australia, 26 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district, at the junction of Diamond Creek and Arthur's Creek. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Nillumbik. At the 2006 Census, Hurstbridge had a population of 3448.- History...
  
  
• 'Jenkinsi'
• 'Lara Dwarf', (Lara form) a form from Lara, Victoria
  Lara, Victoria
  Lara is a residential rural suburb, 15 km north-east of Geelong, inland from the Princes Freeway to Melbourne.- History :The explorers Hume and Hovell arrived at Lara on December 16, 1824, believing that they had reached Westernport Bay...
  
  , now extinct in the wild.
• 'Lime-Light'
• 'Little Desert', a form from the Little Desert in Victoria
• 'Lutea'
• 'Marlow'
• 'Nana'
• 'Nectis'
• 'Noelli', a form cultivated in the USA
• 'Pink Pixie'
• 'Rosy Posy', a form from the Yarrangobilly Caves
  Yarrangobilly Caves
  The Yarrangobilly Caves are located in a 12 km long karst region along the Yarrangobilly River valley in the north of Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales, Australia....
  
  area in New South Wales
• 'Vectis'
• 'Wakehurst'
• 'West Wyalong Beauty'
• 'Williamsii Prostrate'
• 'Williamsii'
• 'Wyalong Wonder'