Banksia - Australian Honeysuckle

(Bank'sia)

DESCRIPTION: These are tender, evergreen shrubs and small trees native to Australia. They are grown for their ornamental foliage. The leaves are green on top and silvery-white underneath. B. grandis has large, divided leaves; B. integrifolia has oblong to lanceolate leaves and B. ericifolia has very narrow leaves. These plants can be grown outdoors in mild climates such as southern California's or in greenhouses.

POTTING: Banksias require a minimum temperature of 50 degrees. The compost should be a mixture of equal parts of loam and peat lightened with sand. The pots need excellent drainage. Repotting should be done in March.

PROPAGATION: Well-ripened shoots can be inserted in sand in a propagating case in the greenhouse in August and September.

VARIETIES: B. grandis; B. integrifolia; B. ericifolia.

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