Banksia

Soil: Well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun. Coastal, salt, wind, frost, and drought tolerant.
Size: In a garden, it can grow up to 4–6m tall and 3–4m wide, but regular pruning can help maintain a smaller, more compact size, particularly in pots or small spaces.

Banksia caleyi, commonly known as Red Lantern Banksia, is a hardy, bushy evergreen shrub prized for its bold form and striking floral display. Endemic to a narrow coastal strip between Albany and Esperance in Western Australia, this spectacular banksia produces dramatic reddish-maroon, inverted flower spikes from spring through summer. The nectar-rich blooms are a magnet for birds and insects, adding life and movement to the landscape. It features thick, leathery, glossy green foliage that provides year-round structure and contrast in the garden. Pruning after flowering encourages dense regrowth and helps maintain a compact, tidy habit. Red Lantern Banksia is well suited to native gardens, general landscaping, mass plantings, embankments, and can also be grown successfully in large pots and containers.

Soil: Prefers gravelly shallow well-drained soil. Avoid waterlogged soils.
Conditions: Full sun. Wind, salt, coastal and drought tolerant. Frost tender.
Size: Height 2-4m x width 2-4m

Banksia marginata, the only banksia occurring naturally in the Canberra region, is a hardy and eye-catching Australian native. Its distinctive foliage is dark green on the upper surface with a silvery underside, creating a striking two-tone effect when stirred by the breeze. From winter through to summer, bright green-yellow banksia flower spikes appear, adding colour and attracting birds and pollinators. Silver Banksia makes a beautiful stand-alone feature in the garden and is well-suited to native landscapes, where its texture, seasonal flowers, and resilience can be fully appreciated.

Soil: Well-drained soils.
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade. Wind, salt, coastal, frost and drought tolerant.
Size: Height 1-12m x width 1-8m

The outstanding ornamental, Banksia Ashbyi Dwarf, forms a dense, low, rounded shrub with showy blooms above the foliage. It produces intense orange flowers from autumn through to spring with attractive serrated grey foliage. The flower spikes are especially spectacular as they grow to a length of 15cm with a diameter of 10cm. Prune early to create a multibranched shrub

Soil: Well-drained soil
Conditions: Full sun. Coastal, frost and drought tolerant.
Size: Height 1.5m x width 1m