Banksia
Banksia species and cultivars
Proteaceae
Banksias are not grown in home gardens as often as some other groups of Australian native plants, but they're worth considering especially if you live on the soil types where Banksias tend to occur naturally.
The colours are subtle, but the dramatic forms would certainly work well with contemporary architecture and modernistic garden styles.
Selected garden cultivars with improved horticultural characteristics are available in nurseries. Including the selected forms and hybrids, Banksias are available in a range of plant sizes from small trees to groundcovers.
Some experimentation with different varieties may be required to find one that grows best in your situation.
Some of the Banksias (and other members of Proteaceae) are very sensitive to Phosphorous, so take care with fertilisers.
More information to come in future updates. In the meantime, check out the links at the bottom of the page.
Banksia causes buzz abroad
There's excitement at the UK's Wakehurst Place (a branch of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) at the flowering of their Banksia montana. This is possibly the first time this has been achieved outdoors in that country. More information at the Kew website: Banksia flowers outdoors (Nov 2004)
Links
Queensland
Rusty Banksia (
Banksia oliongifolia, Dwarf Banksia) Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, Bayside Branch
Swamp Banksia (
Banksia robur) Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, Bayside Branch
Australia, International
Banksias Australian National Botanic Gardens
Wallum Banksia Banksia aemula (includes hints on how to distinguish it from B. serrata) Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants
On the Brink - 10 (Banksia cuneata) Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants
Coastal banksia (
Banksia integrifolia) Factsheet download page Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland Govt.
Starlight's Banksia (
B.paludosa subsp.astrolux) Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants
Banksia praemorsa Botany Photo of the Day, University of British Columbia Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research
Banksias Discussion of Banksia production for cut flowers. Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation (PDF)
