Grevillea robusta

English names: Southern silky oak/Silky oak/Australian silver oat

Latin name: Grevillea robusta

Family: Proteaceae - Proteaceae

Origin: Eastern Australia

The Southern silky oak is a fast-growing evergreen that reaches a height of 18 to 35 metres. The trunk of this enormous tree reaches up to 1 metre in diameter. The leaves are pinnate, somewhat resembling ferns; they grow 15 to 30 cm. long and have a grayish underside. The orange-yellow flowers resemble the shape of a bottlebrush; they grow from 8 to 15 cm. The flowers, which appear in spring, are melliferous (producing honey). The chemical compounds present in the plant may lead to inflammation of the skin.