Banksia

Banksia integrifolia Sentinel is a striking Australian native with an upright, narrow growth habit and dense, dark green foliage that flashes a silvery underside in the breeze. From summer through to mid-winter it produces large, lemon-coloured flower spikes that attract honeyeaters and bees. This evergreen banksia is ideal for coastal gardens and works beautifully in flower beds, borders, or as a natural screen. Its tall, slender form makes it perfect for adding structure and a vibrant splash of colour to the landscape while supporting local wildlife.

Soil: Prefers a well-drained, humus-rich soil and is suited to sandy soils.
Conditions: Full sun or part shade. Frost tolerant to –10C, drought and coast hardy.
Size: Height 1.5-3m x width 0.6-1m

Bird Song is a delightful, smaller-growing banksia with beautiful shiny green foliage and large classic banksia candle flowers in autumn and winter. The flowers start as yellow buds, age to a darker orange-red, and are loved by nectar-feeding birds and other wildlife. Bird Song is naturally dense but can be encouraged to be even more compact if pruned after flowering finishes. Very useful for informal hedging, massed planting or on its own.

Soil: Well-drained soils. In heavier soils, it is good to create raised beds.
Conditions: Needs full sun for best flowering. Drought, coastal and light frost tolerant.
Size: Height 1-2m x width 1-2m.

Banksia Honey Cones Banksia is a compact, hardy Australian native shrub renowned for its masses of golden-yellow flower spikes and fine, dark green needle-like foliage. The spectacular blooms appear mainly in autumn and winter, attracting birds, bees, and other pollinators to the garden. This variety has a dense, rounded growth habit making it ideal for rockeries, native gardens, mass plantings, or decorative containers on patios and verandas. Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a compact shape and encourage new growth.

Soil: Prefers well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun to light shade. Drought, coastal and frost tolerant
Size: Height 1m × Width 1m

Banksia Pygmy Possum is an unusual and attractive native ground cover with dense, trailing growth and mid-green foliage. During summer and autumn it produces large, silver-yellow flower cones that are rich in nectar and create a striking display.This low-growing banksia is ideally suited to coastal gardens, poolside planting, rockeries, and mixed borders, where it can be used effectively as a carpet plant. It also performs well in large containers, cascading naturally over edges. Like all banksias, Pygmy Possum attracts birds, bees and butterflies, adding colour, movement and wildlife interest to the garden.

Soil: Well-drained clay to sandy loam, neutral to slightly acid soils.
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Drought and light frost tolerance once established. Tolerates wind and salt spray.
Size: Height 0.30m x width 2-3m.