Grevillea victoriae, also known as Royal Grevillea or Mountain Grevillea, is a shrub

Shrub

A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...

 which is endemic to south-eastern 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 mountainous parts of 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....

 in 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...

.

Description

Grevillea victoriae is a shrub that grows to between 0.2 and 4 metres in height. It has obovate to ovate leaves

Leaf

A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....

 that range between 1.5 and 14 cm in length and 0.5 to 4.5 cm in width. Pendant clusters of red or orange flowers appear in spring and summer.

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by Victorian Government Botanist Ferdinand von Mueller

Ferdinand von Mueller

Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, KCMG was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist.-Early life:...

, his description published in Transactions of the Philosophical Society of Victoria in 1855. Mueller discovered the species when he climbed to the plateau of Mount Buffalo in 1853. He described it as "a truly majestic plant, when, by descending into the vallies it assumes a height of 12 feet or more." The specific epithet victoriae was named for Queen Victoria.

Grevillea victoriae complex

In 1993 Don McGillivray

Donald McGillivray

Donald John McGillivray in New South Wales, Australia, and is usually known as D.J. McGillivray. He is an Australian botanical taxonomist...

 published an outline of 11 races of Grevillea victoriae as well as an associated description of unassigned specimens prompting fellow botanists to take a closer look at the Grevillea victoriae complex. The following year, Grevillea hockingsii

Grevillea hockingsii

Grevillea hockingsii is a shrub species that is endemic Queensland, Australia. It was first formally described by Bill Molyneux and Peter Olde in 1994....

from Queensland and G. mollis

Grevillea mollis

Grevillea mollis is a rare shrub. Found under tall eucalyptus forest, on granite based soils at Gibraltar Range National Park, in Australia....

from New South Wales were segregated from the Grevillea victoriae complex by Peter Olde and Bill Molyneux. Bob Makinson segregated two further species, G. oxyantha

Grevillea oxyantha

Grevillea oxyantha is a plant from the Protea family, found in the cold mountain regions of southern New South Wales, Australia. The Kybean Grevillea grows from one to three metres in height. They are often found on rocky places, near cliffs or occasionally near streams. Rock types are mostly...

and G. rhyolitica

Grevillea rhyolitica

Grevillea rhyolitica, also known as Deua Grevillea, is a shrub which is endemic to south-eastern New South Wales in Australia. It grows to between 0.5 and 2 metres in height....

, in 1997. Grevillea epicroca

Grevillea epicroca

Grevillea epicroca is a shrub species that is endemic to south-eastern New South Wales in Australia. It grows up to 2.5 metres high and produces clusters of red flowers between November and May in the species native range...

, G. irassa

Grevillea irrasa

Grevillea irrasa is a shrub species which is endemic to New South Wales in Australia. It has a spreading to erect habit, growing 1.5-3 metres high. Flowers appear between August and January in its native range...

and G. monscalana

Grevillea monslacana

Grevillea monslacana, commonly known as Lake Mountain Grevillea, is a shrub species which is endemic to mountainous areas of eastern Victoria in Australia. It grows to 2 metres in height...

were segregated and G. miqueliana

Grevillea miqueliana

Grevillea miqueliana, commonly known as Oval-leaf Grevillea, is a shrub species which is endemic to mountainous areas of eastern Victoria in Australia. It grows to between 1.5 and 2.5 metres in height. The species was first formally described by botanist Ferdinand von Mueller, his description...

was reinstated as a separate species in the Flora of Australia

Flora of Australia (series)

The Flora of Australia is a 59 volume series describing the vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens present in Australia and its external territories...

in 2000. In this publication, Makinson defined a Victoriae Subgroup within the genus Grevillea as follows:

Flora of Australia (2000)	McGillivray (1993)	Olde & Marriott (1995)	Other synonyms
Grevillea victoriae	G. victoriae	G. victoriae
G. victoriae subsp. victoriae	G. victoriae 'race c'
G. victoriae subsp. nivalis	G. victoriae 'race d'		G. victoriae 'Murray (Valley) Queen'
Grevillea brevifolia Grevillea brevifolia Grevillea brevifolia, commonly known as Cobberas Grevillea, is a species of the plant genus Grevillea. It is native to the states of Victoria and New South Wales in Australia. The red flowers appear between November and December in the species native range...	G. victoriae 'Unassigned 3', G. victoriae 'Unassigned 6'
G. brevifolia subsp. brevifolia	G. victoriae 'race e'
G. brevifolia subsp. polychroma Grevillea polychroma Grevillea polychroma , commonly known as Tullach Ard Grevillea, is a species of the plant genus Grevillea. It is endemic to the state of Victoria in Australia. The taxon was first formally described as a subspecies of Grevillea brevifolia in 2000. It was promoted to species status in 2005...	G. victoriae 'race f' (partially)		G. brevifolia subsp. 2 (Mt Elizabeth)
Grevillea parvula Grevillea parvula Grevillea parvula , commonly known as Genoa Grevillea, is a species of the plant genus Grevillea. It is native to the states of Victoria and New South Wales in Australia....	G victoriae 'race f' (partially)		G. victoriae var. leptoneura, G victoriae var. tenuinervis, G. sp. 3 subsp. 2 (Mt Kaye), G. victoriae 'Mallacoota Inlet' (partially)
Grevillea epicroca Grevillea epicroca Grevillea epicroca is a shrub species that is endemic to south-eastern New South Wales in Australia. It grows up to 2.5 metres high and produces clusters of red flowers between November and May in the species native range...	G. victoriae 'Unassigned 5'
Grevillea monslacana Grevillea monslacana Grevillea monslacana, commonly known as Lake Mountain Grevillea, is a shrub species which is endemic to mountainous areas of eastern Victoria in Australia. It grows to 2 metres in height...	G. victoriae 'race h'	G. victoriae 'Lake Mountain form'	G. sp. 2 (Lake Mountain)
Grevillea miqueliana Grevillea miqueliana Grevillea miqueliana, commonly known as Oval-leaf Grevillea, is a shrub species which is endemic to mountainous areas of eastern Victoria in Australia. It grows to between 1.5 and 2.5 metres in height. The species was first formally described by botanist Ferdinand von Mueller, his description...		G. miqueliana
G. miqueliana subsp. miqueliana	G. victoriae 'race j'	G. miqueliana 'Typical form'
G. miqueliana subsp. moroka	G. victoriae 'race k'	G. miqueliana 'Mt Wellington form'
Grevillea irrasa Grevillea irrasa Grevillea irrasa is a shrub species which is endemic to New South Wales in Australia. It has a spreading to erect habit, growing 1.5-3 metres high. Flowers appear between August and January in its native range...	G. victoriae 'race l'	G. sp. aff. miqueliana
G. irrasa subsp. irrasa		G. sp. nov. aff. miqueliana 'Form from near Yowaka'	G. sp. 'Nullica'
G. irrasa subsp. didymochiton		G. sp. nov. aff. miqueliana 'Form from near Yowrie'	G. sp. 'Belowra'
Grevillea oxyantha Grevillea oxyantha Grevillea oxyantha is a plant from the Protea family, found in the cold mountain regions of southern New South Wales, Australia. The Kybean Grevillea grows from one to three metres in height. They are often found on rocky places, near cliffs or occasionally near streams. Rock types are mostly...		G. sp. aff. victoriae 'A'
G. oxyantha subsp. oxyantha	G. victoriae 'race a'		G. victoriae 'Canberra form', G. victoriae 'ACT form'
G. oxyantha subsp. ecarinata	G. victoriae 'race b'
Grevillea rhyolitica Grevillea rhyolitica Grevillea rhyolitica, also known as Deua Grevillea, is a shrub which is endemic to south-eastern New South Wales in Australia. It grows to between 0.5 and 2 metres in height....		G. sp. aff. victoriae 'B'
G. rhyolitica subsp. rhyolitica
G. rhyolitica subsp. semivestita	G. victoriae 'race g'
Grevillea diminuta Grevillea diminuta Grevillea diminuta is a shrub species that is native to New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. It was first formally described by Lawrie Johnson in 1962....	G. diminuta	G. diminuta
Grevillea hockingsii Grevillea hockingsii Grevillea hockingsii is a shrub species that is endemic Queensland, Australia. It was first formally described by Bill Molyneux and Peter Olde in 1994....	G. victoriae 'Unassigned 8' (Queensland)	G. hockingsii
Grevillea linsmithii Grevillea linsmithii Grevillea linsmithii is a shrub species that is native to New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It was first formally described by Don McGillivray in 1986. The type specimen was collected from Mount Greville in Queensland in 1973. The species is listed as "Endangered" in Queensland under...	G. linsmithii	G. linsmithii
Grevillea mollis Grevillea mollis Grevillea mollis is a rare shrub. Found under tall eucalyptus forest, on granite based soils at Gibraltar Range National Park, in Australia....		G. mollis	G.thymafolia
Grevillea cyranostigma Grevillea cyranostigma Grevillea cyranostigma, commonly known as the Carnarvon grevillea or Green grevillea, is a shrub species that is endemic to Queensland in Australia. It was first formally described by Don McGillivray in 1975. He named it cyranostigma after Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, as its long stigma...	G. cyranostigma	G. cyranostigma

In 2005 Bill Molyneux and Val Stajsic described the new species Grevillea bemboka

Grevillea bemboka

Grevillea bemboka is a shrub species which is endemic to New South Wales in Australia. The species was first formally described by Val Stajsic and Bill Molyneux in 2005. It occurs in the South East Forest National Park near Bemboka....

and G. callichlaena

Grevillea callichlaena

Grevillea callichlaena is a shrub species which is endemic to mountainous areas of eastern Victoria in Australia. The species was first formally described in 2005. The species is listed, under the name Grevillea sp. aff...

and the new subspecies G. miqueliana subsp. cincta and elevated G. brevifolia subsp. polychroma to species status (G. polychroma

Grevillea polychroma

Grevillea polychroma , commonly known as Tullach Ard Grevillea, is a species of the plant genus Grevillea. It is endemic to the state of Victoria in Australia. The taxon was first formally described as a subspecies of Grevillea brevifolia in 2000. It was promoted to species status in 2005...

). A new species G. sp. 'Mt Burrowa'

Grevillea sp. Mt Burrowa

Grevillea sp. Mt Burrowa, commonly known as Burrowa Grevillea, is an undescribed species of Grevillea from Mount Burrowa in the north-east of Victoria in Australia. It is a shrub with ovate leaves and red flowers....

 is yet to be formally described.

Grevillea victoriae sensu stricto

There are currently three recognised subspecies in Grevillea victoriae sensu stricto:

• G. victoriae subsp. brindabella - newly described in 2010. (synonyms: G. aff. victoriae 'Baldy Range', G. aff. victoriae M.Richardson 9)
• G. victoriae subsp. nivalis - Kosciuszko Grevillea, which was formally described in 2000 by Stajsic and Molyneux in Taxonomic studies in the Grevillea victoriae F.Muell. species complex.
• G. victoriae subsp. victoriae

Distribution and habitat

Grevillea victoriae occurs in rocky, mountainous areas of south-eastern Australia in forest, woodland and heath. Associated tree species include Eucalyptus pauciflora

Eucalyptus pauciflora

The Snow Gum is a small tree or large shrub native to eastern Australia.-Habitat:It is usually found in the subalpine habitats of eastern Australia. Snow Gums also grow in lowland habitats where they can reach heights of up to 20 metres. Lowland Snow Gum is sometimes known as White Sallee, Cabbage...

and Eucalyptus delegatensis

Eucalyptus delegatensis

Eucalyptus delegatensis, commonly known as Alpine Ash or Gum-topped stringybark or White-top, is a sub-alpine or temperate tree of southeastern Australia. A straight, grey-trunked tree, it reaches heights of over 90 metres in suitable conditions. The tallest currently known specimen is located in...

.
G. victoriae subsp. victoriae is found on some of Victoria's highest mountains including Mount Bogong

Mount Bogong

Mount Bogong , located in the Alpine National Park, is the highest mountain in Victoria, Australia. The Big River separates the massif of the mountain from the Bogong High Plains to the south. "Bogong" in the local Aboriginal language means bigfella...

, Mount Buffalo, Mount Buller, Mount Hotham

Mount Hotham

Mount Hotham is a mountain in Victoria, Australia. It is home to Hotham Alpine Resort. The mountain is located approximately north east of Melbourne, from Sydney, and from Adelaide by road. Mt Hotham's summit rises to an altitude of above sea level...

, Mount Howitt

Mount Howitt

Mount Howitt is a mountain in Victoria, Australia, named for Alfred William Howitt. Located in the Wonangatta Moroka Unit of the Alpine National Park approximately 170 km Northeast of Melbourne....

, Mount St Bernard and Mount Torbreck

Mount Torbreck

Mount Torbreck is a mountain in Victoria, Australia 150 km from Melbourne. The mountain was listed as a place that could be declared as an alpine resort in The Alpine Resorts Act 1983, however no resort was ever developed on the site and it was recommended to be changed to a natural and...

. G. victoria subsp nivalis occurs in sub-alpine areas around Mount Kosciuszko

Mount Kosciuszko

Mount Kosciuszko is a mountain located in the Snowy Mountains in Kosciuszko National Park. With a height of 2,228 metres above sea level, it is the highest mountain in Australia...

 and nearby ranges from Mount Gibbo and Mount Sassafras in the Victorian

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....

 Alps northwards to Talbingo 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...

. In rare cases it may be seen above the treeline. G. victoriae subsp. brindabella occurs in the Brindabella Range on the border of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory

Australian Capital Territory

The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...

.

Ecology

Eastern spinebill

Eastern Spinebill

The Eastern Spinebill, Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris, is a species of honeyeater found in south-eastern Australia in forest and woodland areas, as well as gardens in urban areas of Sydney and Melbourne...

s and Yellow-faced Honeyeater

Yellow-faced Honeyeater

The Yellow-faced Honeyeater is a medium-small bird in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. It takes both its common name and scientific name from the distinctive yellow stripes on the sides of its head. It has a loud clear call, and is one the first birds heard in the morning...

s are known to feed on the nectar of Grevillea victoriae sensu lato. In Kosiuszko National Park, it has been noted that many bird species leave the area when Grevillea victoriae finishes flowering in January

Taxa within the Greviilea victoriae complex are believed to be fire intolerant, regenerating from seed only.

Conservation status

The subspecies nivalis and victoriae are listed as "Rare in Victoria" on the Department of Sustainability and Environment's Advisory List of Rare Or Threatened Plants In Victoria.

Cultivation

Grevillea victoriae has a reputation for being hardy and reliable in cultivation, and has been successfully grown in all states of Australia, as well as New Zealand, the United States and Great Britain. Plants require a well-drained position with full-exposure to sun or partial shade and will benefit from pruning to maintain a more compact shape. Originating from mountainous regions, the species has a high tolerance to frost and snow. It is useful as a screening plant and to attract birds to the garden. In certain parts of North America, hummingbird

Hummingbird

Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...

s feed on the flowers of cultivated plants in the winter.

Plants are easily propagated by seed or cuttings and have been successfully grafted on to Grevillea robusta

Grevillea robusta

Grevillea robusta, commonly known as the southern silky oak or Silky-oak, or Australian Silver-oak, is the largest species in the genus Grevillea. It is a native of eastern coastal Australia, in riverine, subtropical and dry rainforest environments receiving more than 1,000 mm per year of...

rootstocks.

Cultivars

A number of hybrid cultivar

Cultivar

A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...

s involving Grevillea victoriae sensu lato have been developed including the following:

• 'Audrey' - G. juniperina
  Grevillea juniperina
  Grevillea juniperina, commonly known as Juniper Grevillea, is a shrub which is endemic to eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland in Australia....
  
  x G. victoriae
• 'Bairnsdale' - selected seedling of G. 'Poorinda Constance'
• 'Canterbury Gold' - G. juniperina (prostrate yellow form) x G. victoriae var.leptoneura
• 'Glen Pearl' - G. victoriae x G. juniperina
• 'Lady O' - G. victoriae hybrid x G. rhyolitica
  Grevillea rhyolitica
  Grevillea rhyolitica, also known as Deua Grevillea, is a shrub which is endemic to south-eastern New South Wales in Australia. It grows to between 0.5 and 2 metres in height....
  
  
• 'Orange Box' - G. polychroma
  Grevillea polychroma
  Grevillea polychroma , commonly known as Tullach Ard Grevillea, is a species of the plant genus Grevillea. It is endemic to the state of Victoria in Australia. The taxon was first formally described as a subspecies of Grevillea brevifolia in 2000. It was promoted to species status in 2005...
  
  x G. juniperina subsp. juniperina
• 'Poorinda Constance' - New South Wales form of G. juniperina x red flower form of G. victoriae
• 'Poorinda Golden Lyre' - G. alpina
  Grevillea alpina
  The Australian flowering shrub Grevillea alpina has several common names, including mountain grevillea, alpine grevillea, and cat's claws. It is not limited to alpine environments, and in fact is less common at high elevation than low...
  
  x G. victoriae
• 'Poorinda Leane' - G. juniperina x G. victoriae
• 'Poorinda Pink Coral' - north-east Victorian form of G. juniperina x G. victoriae
• 'Poorinda Queen' - G. juniperina x yellow flower form of Grevillea victoriae