Grevillea robusta

Grevillea robusta with Dryandra in Floral Arrangement

Banksia blechnifolia

This photo was taken at the entrance to Cranbourne Botanic Gardens. The soil is quite sandy and reflects the main need for all Banksias and that is very good drainage. This can be achieved by planting in a raised bed. I have read that the top of the planting hole only needs to be 4-6 inches (10-20cm) above the surrounding ground level to achieve the drainage required. The plant grows 2-4m wide and about 50cm high.

This is an adaptable drought hardy plant originating in Western Australia, north of Esperence. It will tolerate dappled shade through to full sun. It withstands light to moderate frosts.

Banksia coccinea in flower arrangement

This one uses Banksia coccinea as the feature flower. In the background is the grey -green foliage from Adenanthos serieus (Woolly Bush). Woolly Bush is the easier of the two plants to grow and they are quite drought tolerant. I have seen few good specimens of Banksia coccinea in South Australian gardens. I believe they are being grown in the Hills for the cut flower trade. The soil in that region is less alkaline and well drained. As a rule of thumb, Banksias will grow where there is excellent drainage even if the soil is alkaline.

The use of a mallee stump to form the arrangement makes this a truly unique Australian ‘picture’.

Banksia praemorsa

Todays’s jobs have been outside and included planting out a box of 24 Banksia plants in the front entrance area of our place. The spot was chosen for several reasons. Firstly these are spectacular plants when in flower so I wanted them to be where we could see them from the house. People driving or walking past would also get pleasure from the sight of the flowers. The area is well drained, deep, sandy loam, although inclined to be water repellant. Some of the plants will be quite large and will form a screen and windbreak which I want in that location.

Species planted were Banksia caleyi, praemorsa, marginata, sphaerocarpa, ashbyi, dryandroides, lemanniana, oblongifolia, repens, hookerana, candolleana. How successful they are remains to seen. The high pH of the soil may be a problem. I want to grow them without any external interference, other than water, if I can. I soaked the plants in a bucket of water containing a soil wettting agent. Tomorrow I will add some granular soil wetter to the planting spot just under where the dripper water will hit the ground.

More information on Growing Banksias

• Banksia hookerana
• Banksia ashbyi
• Banksia cultivation
• Hardy Banksias for Alkaline Areas
• Growing Banksias
• Frost Tolerant Banksias

All the plantings are on deep sand. The soil seems to hold moisture quite well despite being in a low rainfall area.

Banksia ashbyi

Banksia hookerana was one that was covered in flowers, some still to open fully. It is a medium shrub 2-3m high. It is frost and drought tolerant and would make a good low windbreak plant. I think it would be a good cut flower also.

Banksia hookerana

Banksia ashbyi (Ashby's Banksia)

This is a medium to tall shrub, 2-6m high and 2-4m wide. Leaves are 15-50cm long, with a deep saw toothed edge. The flower heads are bright orange. It needs very well drained soil in a warm climate. It is drought tolerant and frost hardy once established. This Banksia is one of those grown for the cut flower trade.

Flower Arrangement with Banksias

Banksias are such dramatic flowers. There are two different species in this arrangement, plus the seed cone of another species. A typical piece of Australiana is the old gnarled piece of mallee stump.

When we used to get to the city for shopping, when living in the north of the state it was always a treat to see the flower stalls in Rundle mall, the main shopping precinct in the CBD. There were always buckets of Banksia flowers. I would buy a few of each to take home and place in water to enjoy the real colours. When the water evaporated the flowers would dry and keep for months. I often used the leaves with their different serrations as shapes for stencilling.

I enjoy the skill and creativity of the people who did these floral arrangements in Sogersu School of Ikebana.

Banksias and Woolly Bush

This is another of the flower arrangements in a form of Ikebana. The featured flowers are Banksia spinulosa and Woolly Bush (Adenanthos sericeus). Also featured are gnarled pieces of one of the She-Oak family (Allocasuarina). The old seed cones have been retained and some yellow lichen has been left on the stems, also.

Woolly Bush is a wonderful plant. It has a green and grey appearance as the camera flash has picked up in the photo. It is one of those plants that one has to touch because of the soft woolly feel of the foliage. This plant grows well here with good drainage and in the alkaline soil, too. It has small, red jug-shaped flowers that are also attractive but the foliage is the feature.

I really like the way these flower arrangements show off Australian native Plants.