How to Grow Banksia

Some popular banksia species and cultivars to consider for your garden include:

• Hairpin banksia (Banksia spinulosa) - This native is loved for its bright yellow cylindrical flowers. It can grow up to 10 m tall, but if you don't have space, consider one of its compact cultivars, 'Birthday Candles'. This dwarf form grows up 50 cm tall and is ideal for pots or small gardens. It produces large cylindrical orange-gold flowers. Use as feature planting in a pot or mass plant in garden beds for visual impact.

• Heath banksia (Banksia ericifolia) - Produces striking red-orange flower heads with needle-like foliage. Grows into a medium-sized shrub and is adaptable to humid and coastal conditions. Tolerant of light frost once established.
• Burdett's Banksia (Banksia burdettii) - A bushy medium-to-large shrub with brilliant orange flowers and grey-green serrated foliage. The flowers are commonly used in cut-flower arrangements.
• Hooker's Banksia (Banksia hookeriana) - This medium-sized shrub has beautiful orange-yellow flowers with narrow serrated leaves. A popular species for coastal areas and adaptable to most soil types, provided they are well-drained.

• Coast Banksia (Banksia integrifolia) - Features attractive green leaves with silver undersides, and golden-yellow, nectar-rich flower spikes. Grows into a large tree, up to 15 m tall and 6 m wide.
• Old-man Banksia (Banksia serrata) - A small-to-medium tree with attractive cream-coloured flowers. Slow growing, developing a gnarled twisted form as it ages. Frost tolerant once established. Banksia 'Austraflora Pygmy Possum' is a compact form with a spreading habit, growing 30 cm tall and up to 2 m wide.

• Swamp Banksia (Banksia robur) - A medium-sized shrub with flower buds that initially appear blue-green but develop into a creamy-yellow-green colour as the flowers open. The flower spikes darken with age and persist for months after drying.

• Firewood Banksia (Banksia menziesii) - Growing into a large shrub or small tree with impressive red or orange flower spikes. Native to Western Australia, it's best in areas where summers are dry and soils are well-drained.

Choose a sunny spot (with at least six hours of full sun) with well-drained soil. Banksias are adapted to a range of climates across the country; choose species that are best suited to your growing climate.

Prior to planting, ensure the soil is well-drained, and enrich with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. This fertiliser is safe for use around Banksias (and other native plants). If your soil is clay-based, it's best to choose Banksia species that are tolerant of heavier soils, such as Banksia integrifolia and Banksia ericifolia. Alternatively, grow a compact variety in pots.

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root ball. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Place the plant in the hole and backfill around the roots with soil. The final level of soil should be at the same level as the original potting mix around the plant. Water in well to settle the soil around the roots.

Once established, Banksias are moderately tolerant of dry conditions, however will be much healthier with regular watering. In extended periods of hot and dry weather, they will benefit from a good deep watering once or twice a week.

Feed regularly in spring and autumn with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. It's suitable for feeding Australian native plants and will provide slow release organic nutrients to promote healthy leaf growth, strong root development and lots of flowers.

Banksias are fairly low maintenance once established. Trim off the spent flower heads in spring, and prune if required to maintain a tidy, compact habit. Limit severe pruning into older stems as this can reduce next year's flowers.

Consider choosing dwarf or compact varieties, like Banksia 'Birthday Candles', Banksia 'Honey Pot', Banksia 'Little Pal', and Banksia 'Dwarf Red', as they are well-suited for growing in pots.

Choose a well-drained pot that's at least 50 cm wide. A Yates Tuscan Pot is a great home for dwarf Banksias. Place the pot in a position in full sun (at least six hours of sun is ideal).

Choose a quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.

Part-fill your chosen pot with potting mix. Remove the plant from its container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Place the root ball on the potting mix and backfill around the roots with more potting mix. The final level of mix should be the same as the level currently around the plant. Water in well to settle the potting mix around the roots.

Keep the potting mix consistently moist while the plant establishes. Applying an organic mulch, such as bark chips, over the surface of the potting mix will help keep it moist.

Once established, Banksias are moderately tolerant of dry conditions, however will be much healthier with regular watering. In extended periods of hot and dry weather, they will benefit from a good deep watering once or twice a week.

Feed regularly in spring and autumn with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. It's suitable for feeding Australian native plants and will provide slow release organic nutrients to promote healthy leaf growth, strong root development and lots of flowers. 

Banksias are fairly low maintenance once established. Trim off the spent flower heads in spring, and prune if required to maintain a tidy, compact habit. However, limit severe pruning into older stems as this can reduce next year's flowers.

Banksias can thrive in a variety of climates, with some preferring their native habitats on the east or west coast of Australia. Check labels before buying to make sure they are right for your area.

Banksias are suitable for growing in pots. Selecting a dwarf variety or compact form of Banksia is recommended to prevent it from outgrowing its container. Choose a large pot with drainage holes and fill with a quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.

Regularly prune the Banksia shrub to maintain its size and shape, and fertilise in spring and autumn with a fertiliser suitable for native Australian plants, such as Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.

Banksias can have varying lifespans depending on the species and environmental conditions. Generally, Banksia shrubs have an average lifespan of 20-30 years, while Banksia trees can live for 50-60 years or more. 

Proteoid roots are specialised roots found in certain plant species, particularly those originating from nutrient-poor soil, like Banksias, Hakeas, Grevilleas, and other members of the Proteaceae family. These roots are characterised by their dense clustering and ability to take up nutrients in nutrient-deficient soils, where many of the species naturally occur. 

Banksias are drought tolerant once established. However, they will benefit from regular deep drinks during extended periods of hot and dry weather. 

Certain Banksias, such as B. ericifolia and B. spinulosa can be successfully propagated from semi-hardwood cuttings. The best time to take cuttings is during the warmer months when the plant is actively growing, typically in spring or early summer. Select a healthy branch for the cutting, around 10-15 cm long and insert into a pot or tray filled with a well-draining propagation mix of perlite, sand and peat. Place it in a warm, bright spot out of direct sunlight, and water regularly to keep the mix moist.

Poor drainage can lead to root-rot diseases like Phytophthora. Symptoms include yellowing and browning leaves, and ultimately a quick death. To prevent root-rot diseases, it's best to ensure Banksias are growing in a well-drained soil or potting mix. During prolonged damp weather, which favours the development of root-rot diseases, apply Yates Anti Rot Phosacid Systemic Fungicide as a preventative spray. 

Prevention is better than cure as as Phytophthora can be difficult to control once it sets in.

Bumps on the trunk, stems, branches and the undersides of leaves are likely to be the pest, Scale. They can be hard or soft and may secrete a red or orange liquid if squished. To control small infestations, use an insecticide like Yates Scale Gun. For larger infestations or if a concentrate is needed, try Yates Pest Oil.