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Banksia aemula

Wallum banksia

Proteaceae

Coastal eastern Australia (Queensland and New South Wales)

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Banksia aemula is an evergreen shrub or small tree reaching 8-16 feet (2.5-5 m) tall, occasionally to 26 feet (8 m), often developing a gnarled, irregular trunk with warty, orange-brown corky bark. Leaves are obovate with a truncate, toothed apex, 1.2-5 inches (3-13 cm) long and 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) wide, with serrated margins and a glossy dark green upper surface. Cylindrical flower spikes are greenish-yellow, 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) tall and 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) wide, produced mainly in autumn and winter. Spent spikes develop into woody cones bearing raised follicles that open after fire. The species develops a lignotuber and resprouts following bushfire. Growth is slow, with plants reaching flowering size in 5-7 years from seed. Roots include proteoid cluster roots adapted to low-phosphorus soils; the species is damaged by phosphorus fertilizers and is susceptible to Phytophthora cinnamomi root rot in poorly drained sites.

Native Range

Native to coastal eastern Australia from central Queensland to southern New South Wales. Grows in wallum heathland and open woodland on deep, sandy, nutrient-poor soils, typically within 30 miles (50 km) of the coast at low elevations.

Suggested Uses

Grown in coastal and low-water native gardens on sandy soils, spaced 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) apart. Nectar-rich flower spikes draw honeyeaters and other nectar-feeding birds. Grows poorly in heavy clay or in irrigated, fertilized garden beds.

How to Identify

Separated from Banksia serrata by its smaller stature, greenish-yellow rather than grey flower spikes, and shorter leaves 1.2-5 inches (3-13 cm) long with a truncate, toothed tip. Bark is warty and orange-brown. Old cones retain numerous closed follicles densely arranged around the woody axis.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8' - 16'

Width/Spread6' - 13'

Reaches mature size in approximately 10 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Fall Winter

Flowers mainly from autumn into winter, March through July in its native range, with peak flowering in April and May. Individual spikes remain in flower for 3-5 weeks. Flowering begins earlier in warmer northern populations.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

5-7 years to first flowering

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to light shade on free-draining sandy soils. Water through the first 1-2 growing seasons; established plants tolerate extended dry periods. Phosphorus-based fertilizers damage the proteoid root system and can kill plants, so only low-phosphorus native fertilizer is used where feeding occurs. Phytophthora cinnamomi root rot develops in waterlogged or poorly drained soils and causes progressive dieback. Plants resprout from the lignotuber after fire or hard cutting.

Pruning

Resprouts from the lignotuber and from epicormic buds along stems after cutting. Light tip pruning after flowering maintains a denser habit. Spent flower spikes can be left to form woody cones or removed without affecting plant health.

Pruning Schedule

winter