In 1959, in a vote for the state of Queensland's floral emblem, Cooktown Orchid Dendrobium bigibbum var. phalaenopsis won but this excellent native that also is a great garden plant came in second: GREVILLEA BANKSII Red Silky Oak.
There is much debate about whether or not it is native to Macleay Island. Strangely, the experts think it is while the locals think it isn't. I have three self-sown. Two are white-flowered and one is red. This is a natural occurrence but, in patches throughout its range, you usually get a predominance of just one colour or the other. Mine have just stared flowering in the last week. The red flowers, unfortunately, are high up. None of the flowers will last long once the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos spot them.
