Huma Naveed
Banksia Flowers/Colors: stands out for its striking elegance and ecological significance. These iconic trees and shrubs, native to Australia, boast an impressive range of species, each with its own distinct appearance and flower colour.
They come in diverse shapes and attract a multitude of birds and animals. With over 170 different kinds (almost all found only in Australia), they offer a huge range of flower colours and sizes.
Banksia Basics: Not Just Bottlebrushes!
Flowers:
They grow in big spikes made of hundreds of tiny flowers. Colours include yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and even almost black! The colour often changes as the flowers open.
Seed Pods:
These are tough, woody cones. They usually only open to release seeds after a bushfire or very dry weather.
Leaves
Leaves look very different between types – some are spiky, some have jagged edges, some are leathery, some are silvery underneath. The leaves help you identify them.
Wildlife loves them:
Birds, such as lorikeets and honeyeaters, as well as possums and insects, feast on their sweet nectar.
You’ll find banksias throughout Australia (except in deserts and tropical rainforests), but Western Australia has the most diverse range of types.
Tall Tree Banksias
Coast Banksia:
Looks: Grows 5-25m tall. Smooth, silvery-grey bark. Oval leaves, green on top, silvery-white underneath.
Flowers: Pale yellow candles, late summer to winter.
Likes: Coastal areas, sandy soil, salty air.
Saw Banksia (Old Man Banksia):
Looks: Grows 2-12m tall. Very rough, corky, dark bark. Long leaves with big, sharp “teeth” like a saw.
Flowers: Greenish-yellow cylinders, summer to winter.
Likes: Sandy coastal forests. Has big, gnarly seed cones.
River Banksia:
Looks: The tallest banksia (up to 30m!). Tall, straight trunk.
Flowers: Creamy yellow spikes in autumn.
Likes: Grows near rivers.
Beautiful Shrub Banksias
Heath Banksia:
Looks: Bushy shrub (3-6m tall). Thin, spiky leaves like a heath plant.
Flowers: Bright orange-red “rocket” shapes, autumn and winter. Sydney’s floral emblem!
Loves: Birds! Handles frost and coastal wind.
Hairpin Banksia:
Looks: Smaller shrub (1-3m tall). Narrow green leaves.
Flowers: Golden yellow spikes with long, dark red tips sticking out like “hairpins”. Blooms in autumn.
Bonus: Has awesome dwarf varieties (see below).
Swamp Banksia:
Looks: Shorter shrub (1-2m tall). HUGE, broad, leathery leaves with toothed edges.
Flowers: Start blue-green, turn bright gold! Summer to spring.
Likes: Wet spots! Happy in soggy ground.
Small & Ground-Hugging Banksias (Perfect for Gardens!)
‘Birthday Candles’: Tiny plant (50cm). Covered in short, fat, golden-yellow and red flower spikes in winter. Great for pots!
‘Roller Coaster’: Spreads along the ground (up to 4m wide). Has lovely yellow flower spikes, super for slopes.
‘Honey Pots’: Compact shrub (about 2m). Deep golden flowers with red tips – birds adore them.
Cool New Varieties (Cultivars)
Giant Candles’: Big shrub (5m) with huge orange flower spikes (40cm long!). Handles frost.
‘Black Magic’: Dramatic! Golden flowers with dark black tips on a 2m shrub.
‘Cherry Candles’: Small (50cm), slender gold and red flowers. Perfect for pots.
How to Tell Banksias Apart: Quick Tips
- Flowers: What shape? What colour? Does the colour change? (e.g., Hairpin Banksia has red tips).
- Leaves: Spiky? Big and leathery? Jagged like a saw? Silvery underneath?
- Size & Shape: Is it a tall tree, a bush, or does it crawl on the ground?
- Bark & Seed Cones: Rough and corky? Smooth? Big cones or small?
- Where it Grows: Near the coast? In the bush? In a swamp?
Growing Happy Banksias
Sun: Loves full sun!
Soil: CRUCIAL:
Needs soil that drains water VERY well (except Swamp Banksia). Sandy or gravelly soil is best. Never use normal garden fertiliser – especially avoid those with high phosphorus content. It can kill them!
Water: Tough once established. Water new plants weekly for the first year.
Cutting Back (Pruning):
Pinch the tips of young plants to encourage a bushy appearance. Some types (like Saw Banksia) can be cut back hard after flowering – they have a special lump (lignotuber) at the base that helps them re-sprout.
Growing from Seed:
Heat the seed cones in an oven (around 120°C for an hour) to make them open. Plant the seeds in sandy potting mix.
More Than Just a Pretty Flower
- Dried Flowers: Cut flower spikes and hang them upside down in a dark, airy spot. They dry beautifully and can last for years!
- Wildlife Heroes: Banksias are a vital food source for native animals, especially birds like the endangered Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo. Protecting banksia bushland helps save these creatures.
Why Banksias are Awesome!
From towering Coast Banksias to tiny ‘Birthday Candles’, banksias are tough, beautiful, and uniquely Australian. Spotting their different leaves and flowers on a walk, or planting one in your garden, connects you to this amazing landscape. They truly are nature’s fiery masterpieces – ready to light up your world!
