Winter Flowering Banksia

Banksias are the ultimate natural food tree for native wildlife, especially in winter when other food is scarce. Their flowers are honey-scented spikes of gold, yellow, orange or red. They provide nectar for insects, birds and small mammals, then as the flowers age and seeds form, food becomes available for seed-eaters such as parrots and cockatoos.

Around 70 species of banksias are known, and the best of them are from Western Australia. Western Australian varieties such as Banksia coccinea, B. hookeriana and B. speciosa grow naturally in deep sandy soil with excellent drainage. They are hard to grow in the more humid eastern states or in heavy soils, because they are susceptible to root rots and fungal problems. However, new work on grafting will make these plants more widely available from spring (we’ll keep you posted).

In our segment Don looked at some of the winter flowering banksias which grow well on the east coast:

Coast banksia (Banksia integrifolia)

A small to medium sized tree, the coast banksia grows to around 15m (50′) tall. It is hardy, long-lived and tolerant of salt spray and wind. The leaves are dark green with a silvery white reverse. The flowers are cream/lime/yellow and are rich in nectar. The main flowering period is from January to June, but some plants flower for most of the year. The coast banksia will grow in all areas of Australia.

Hairpin banksia (Banksia spinulosa)

This banksia is native to eastern Australia from Queensland to Victoria. It comes in many forms, from tall, sprawling shrubs (to 4m or 12′) to low, spreading plants with a distinctive dwarf habit. The flowers are golden yellow to honey orange, and appear from March to September. The hairpin banksia is hardy, resistant to salt spray and a good bird attracting plant.

Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)

A gnarled, large shrub or small tree growing to around 10m (30′) tall. Grey-green flower spikes appear from December to June. They are rich in nectar and form an important part of the diet of coastal birds. This banksia is very resistant to salt spray. An irregular form, rough, spongy bark and persistent flower cones add to the character and charm of this plant. It will grow in most areas of Australia except for the tropics and inland.

Further information

Banksias are sold at some larger garden centres and specialist native plant nurseries (see list below). There are many different forms and varieties of the three species mentioned above, including ‘Giant Candles’, ‘Birthday Candles’ and ‘Coastal Cushion’.

Native Plant Nurseries:

NSW

Annangrove Grevilleas Native Nursery, Kenthurst. Phone: (02) 9654 1380
Cranebrook Native Nursery, Cranebrook. Phone: (02) 4777 4256
Sydney Wildflower Nursery West, Marsden Park. Phone: (02) 9628 4448
Sydney Wildflower Nursery South, Heathcote. Phone: (02) 9548 2818

QLD

Fairhill Native Plants, Yandina. Phone: (07) 5446 7088
Nielsen’s Native Nursery, Loganholme. Phone: (07) 3806 1414

VIC

Kuranga Native Nursery, Ringwood. Phone: (03) 9879 4076
Mt Cassell Native Nursery, Pomonal. Phone: (03) 5356 6351

SA

Nellie Nursery, Mannum. Phone: (08) 8569 1762

WA

Zanthorrea Nursery, Maida Vale. Phone: (08) 9454 6260

‘The Banksias’ is an exhibition by botanical watercolour artist Celia Rosser. It is on at the National Library, Canberra until August 5. For more details phone (02) 6262 1353.

Further reading

‘The Banksia Book’ by Alex S. George (Kangaroo Press, 2nd edition 1987). ‘Banksia’ an article by Jennifer Stackhouse in the July edition of the Burke’s Backyard magazine. The magazine is available at newsagents for $4.60.