Plant Profile Sheet

Banksia integrifolia
Family
Protaceae

Binomial
Banksia integrifolia

Synonyms

Banksia integrifolia var. integrifolia
B. integrifolia var. major
B. integrifolia var. minor
B. integrifolia var. typica
B. oleaefolia
B. spicata
B. glauca
Sirmuellera integrifolia
Isostylis integrefolia(Wrigley & Fagg, 1989)

Common names
Banksia, Coast Banksia, White Honeysuckle (Wrigley & Fagg, 1989).

Life-cycle
Perennial

Stem Structure
Woody

Height and SpreadHeight and spread varies plant to plant and place to place. Usually up to 9 m in cultivation.
A shapely tree up to 25 m in height, often less and even some places no more than a shrub (Wrigley & Fagg, 1989).

Outstanding Features
Fast growing, erect, long-lived tree, Silvery underneath of foliage gives silvery aspect in wind,, beautiful flowers, usually bears all stages of flower almost all around the year. Flower stays for a long time, wind and salt spray tolerant, grows in poor and acidic soils, likes seashores, hardy plant (Wrigley & Fagg, 1989., George, 1987).
"As a bird attractor, it is excellent" (Wrigley & Fagg, 1989).

Horticultural use
Wind protection, landscape, specimen plant, aesthetic appearance, coastal garden plant, coastal street plant, foliage and flowering plant.

Cultural uses
Nice plant to bonsai.

Horticultural Limitation
Need large space, not suitable near the walls & windows. needs pruning in smaller area, Foliage provide shelter and flowers nectar to birds that may become a problem.

Ideal Environment
Coastal plant, grows on sand dunes on exposed shores and in tidal inlets and is often dominant in these communities (Wrigley & Fagg, 1989).
grows in Acidic soils with poor nutrients and good drainage. Banksias are toxic to phosphorus (George, 1987).
It is the most easterly tree of the Australian Mainland. Likes a lot of water, grows in rich and poor soils as well.

Plant Culture

Name: Specific name from Latin integer (entire) and Folium (foliage), referring to the entire margins of the adult leaves.

Description: The height is variable from a shrub to 25 m. Leaves in whorls, dull green above, white closely woolly underside, narrowly obovate to narrowly elliptical, obtuse or emarginate, up to 10 cm long with entire margins or rarely occasional teeth. Juvenile leaves are toothed. Bark is thin and shiny, becoming thick and rough with age, Inflorescence cylindrical, up to 12 cm long and 5-7 cm wide, pale green, including styles, usually on the apex of branchlet, appear late summer to winter, stays up to 3 years, flowering in January to July, trunk smooth and shiny at juvenile stage, getting rougher with age. Coppery brown in color. Prefers full-sun and good drained soil. (Wrigley & Fagg, 1989., George, 1987).

Fire Response: Tolerant to fire, sprouting by epicormic shoots (George, 1987).

New Growth: Pale brown, closely velvety (George, 1987).

Propagation: It has been known to sucker after fire, the new plants developing from the swelling of the roots (Lignotubers) (Wrigley & Fagg, 1989. PP 48-49).

In Europe it is widly propagated from Cutting (George, 1987).

Could be easily propagated from seed. Cones (Mature Flowers) need to be exposed to moderate fire to release the seed. The seed pods will open when exposed to fire. Then remove seed with a pair of tweezers. It takes up to 3-4 weeks to germinate.

Seedling require high attention. Fungicide must be sprayed regularly to avoid damping off. Seedling need pricked out in coarse and well drained media after the true leaves emerge.

Planting: The roots of Banksia spp. grow very fast. While growing in a pot, they need to be repotted frequently. In early stages it is a good idea to grow them pots but afterwards it is not easy.

While transplanting, dig a hole about 2 times the root ball diameter. The soil must be well drained. Plant and refill the hole with soil. Water it regularly once or twice a week, depending on the weather conditions.

Fertilizing: There is myth that natives don't need fertilizing. But it is not straight true. They need fertilizing but not heavily. A proper amount and type of fertilizer gives better results for Banksia. Banksia Doesn't like Phosphorus rich fertilizers. The high amount of phosphorus causes Iron deficiency in the soil. Low phosphorus fertilizers like Native Osmocote® are the best for Banksia. Avoid chicken manure.

Pests and diseases: B. integrifolia is usually pests and diseases free plant. But occasionally, Banksia spp. are susceptible to leaf-rolling caterpillar and scale insects that lead to sooty mould. There is no other recognized pest or disease for Banksia spp.

Damping off in nursery stock is most common (caused by Fungi). Mature plants, rarely, are attacked by root rot fungi (e.g. Phytophthora spp.) and die.

Pruning: Banksia respond very well to Light Pruning, just after the flower is finished. But they can tolerate hard pruning as well. Some of the seeding flowers could be kept for decorations.

Mulching: “Unless applied thickly, a mulch will not control weeds, and it may encourage the growth of surface roots atv the expense of deeper ones which the plants need in dry seasons. Under natural conditions, seedling and young plants grow with very little litter and it builds up slowly as they grow up. Banksia don't need additional nutrients or moisture from the mulch.” (George, 1987) Use mulch that does not degrades quickly, e.g. Gravel, stone or pine bark. Use a thick layer about 8-10 cm just to control weeds.

Reference:

1.Wrigley J W & Fagg Murray, 1989, Banksia, Waratahs & Grevillias and other plants in the Australian Proteaceae family, William Collins Pty Ltd. NSW Australia.
2.George A S, 1987, The Banksia Book, 2nd edition, Kangaroo Press, Kenthrust, NSW, Australia.
3.Atkinson B, 1995, Trees and Shrubs 1995, 1995 edition, Queensland Department of Primery Industries, Queensland, Australia.