You can't ignore the Grevillea curviloba. You'll look twice at it, either because you've traced the perfume pervading the whole garden, or else --- you've been pricked!

As Western Australian native plants do not have a long life in this subtropical climate (1300 mm or 52 inches per annum of summer rainfall), we were cautious about this medium sized shrub when planted 4_ years ago. However, it has been quite at home. It requires a place away from paths because the pointed trident leaves are very sharp.

G. curviloba should be on a well-drained open slope facing north or west and requires space of about 5 metres by 3 metres. Our specimen is now 1.5 metres tall, but responds to moderate shaping in early summer. In its exposed hilltop position gales have damaged long branches. We amputate the limb, apply black tree paint and away it goes again attracting squadrons of bees. Naturally, our adjacent strawberries are well pollinated.

G. curviloba has a perfume you take sides about. You either like it or you don't. In a confined area such as a warm room, it can be quite overpowering. Bring a spray inside to a cool room and you will notice the white flowers. However, as the room temperature rises so does the heady perfume increase.

In a district where webbing caterpillars shorten the lives of many Grevillea shrubs, G. curviloba is the exception. Cuttings strike easily each February or March in a medium of 3 parts coarse sand to one part peatmoss, and flower 15 months later. It flowers for about three months, from each June onwards and its prickly foliage keeps all cats away from our Blue-tongued Lizard.

In "Australian Native Plants" Wrigley & Fagg recommend it for its foliage. We would recommend it for its delightful perfume, best appreciated, each winter, outdoors.