Banksia

Banksia New Dawn is a much-loved Australian native shrub with a naturally dense, upright habit. From winter through to spring it produces pale lemon flower spikes up to 15 cm long, creating a soft yet striking display when many other plants are resting. The blooms are rich in nectar and highly attractive to birds, while the thick foliage provides valuable shelter for wildlife. Its stretched oval leaves are beautifully splayed along straight, woody stems, giving the plant strong architectural form and year-round appeal. The long-lasting flowers are also popular for cut arrangements, holding their colour and shape well in floral displays. 

Soil: Well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun. Coastal, salt, wind, light frost and drought-tolerant.
Size: In a garden, it can grow up to 3–4m tall and 2–3m wide, but regular pruning can help maintain a smaller, more compact size, particularly in pots or small spaces.

Banksia occidentalis, commonly known as Red Swamp Banksia, is a striking Australian native shrub or small tree valued for its brilliant red flower spikes and long flowering season. Producing masses of vibrant blooms from summer through autumn and often at other times of the year, it provides a bold splash of colour in the landscape while attracting a wide range of nectar-feeding birds, bees and other beneficial pollinators. This upright, ornamental banksia is ideal for use as a feature plant, screening shrub or colourful windbreak. Its dense foliage and prolific flowering make it a standout choice for native gardens, wildlife-friendly landscapes and coastal settings. Light pruning after flowering will help maintain a compact, attractive shape and encourage fresh growth. 

Soil: Prefers sandy to loamy well-drained soils
Conditions: Full sun to dappled shade. It does not like humidity and is not recommended for most areas of the Eastern states. Drought, heat and coastal tolerant.
Size: Height 8m x width 5m

Banksia Black Magic is a striking Australian native shrub prized for its rich, soft deep-green foliage and dramatic winter–spring flowering. Dozens of bold banksia brushes emerge through the foliage, glowing gold with almost black styles — a truly eye-catching contrast that gives this variety its name. The nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for honeyeaters and other native birds, bringing life and movement to the garden during the cooler months. Naturally compact and tidy, Black Magic needs only a light trim to maintain its shape, but it also responds beautifully to more formal clipping, making it an excellent low hedge option.

Perfect for rockeries and smaller gardens, this versatile shrub looks stunning when mass planted for impact, grouped informally, or grown in containers on patios, verandas, or decks.

Soil: Plant in well-drained soil on the acid side. Tolerates clay and sandy soils.

Conditions: Full sun to dappled shade. Moderately frost tolerant, it is drought, salt, heat and coastal hardy.

Size: Height 1.5-2m x width 1-5-2m

Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa, commonly known as Hairpin Banksia, is a hardy evergreen Australian native shrub prized for its slender foliage and striking cylindrical flower spikes. Flowering from autumn through winter, the blooms appear in shades of golden-orange to yellow, often highlighted by vibrant red or purple styles that create a stunning contrast. These nectar-rich flowers are highly attractive to birds, bees, and other pollinators, bringing life and activity to the garden during the cooler months. Naturally growing as a multi-stemmed shrub from a lignotuber, this banksia develops a dense, bushy habit that makes it ideal for hedging, screening, coastal gardens, and wildlife-friendly landscapes. 

Soil: Humus-rich, well-drained soils preferred - it will grow in sandy soils.
Conditions: Sunny position. Frost, drought and coastal tolerant.
Size: Height 2m x width 1-1.5m

Banksia Shore Thing is a compact, hardy Australian native shrub prized for its dense growth, attractive olive-green foliage and vibrant yellow flower spikes. Bred specifically for modern gardens, it maintains a naturally neat, low-growing form, making it ideal for hedging, borders, mass planting and feature displays in smaller landscapes. Flowering throughout much of the year, the nectar-rich blooms attract a variety of native birds, bees and other beneficial pollinators, bringing colour and wildlife into the garden. Light pruning after flowering will help maintain a dense, tidy shape and encourage fresh growth. Its resilience, compact habit and long-lasting ornamental appeal make it an outstanding choice for coastal gardens, native landscapes and low-maintenance planting schemes.

Soil: Well-drained soil.

Conditions: Full sun. Drought, wind and coastal tolerant.

Size: Height 2-2.5m x width 2-2.5m 

Yellow Banksia Rose is the garden equivalent of a golden waterfall. In spring, this vigorous climber erupts into masses of sweetly scented, double-yellow blooms that tumble along its long, arching canes, creating a breathtaking display. Almost thornless and remarkably easy to manage, it's a dream rose for gardeners who love beauty without the battle scars. Perfect for scrambling over fences, archways, pergolas and trellises, Yellow Banksia Rose quickly transforms bare spaces into a sea of cheerful colour. Its dense growth and cottage-garden charm make it equally at home in informal gardens, where it brings a touch of old-world romance each flowering season. As it flowers on the previous season's growth, save pruning for late summer after flowering has finished—otherwise you'll be waving goodbye to next spring's golden show. 

Soil: Well-drained soil.

Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Light frost tolerance.

Size: Height 9m x width 9m