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Banksia cunninghamii

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 9–10

Overview

Banksia cunninghamii is a shrub or small tree growing 10-26 feet (3-8 m) tall, with a single main trunk and rough grey bark, taller and more tree-like than the closely related Banksia spinulosa. Leaves are narrow, linear, 1.2-4 inches (3-10 cm) long and about 0.2 inch (5 mm) wide, dark green above and white-hairy beneath, with the tip usually three-toothed. The flower spikes are cylindrical, 3-6 inches (8-15 cm) tall, gold to orange in the open flowers with dark purple-black, hooked styles, giving the spike a two-toned look. Flowering occurs mainly in autumn and winter. Old spikes form woody cones holding raised follicles that open after fire to release winged seeds. Unlike many banksias, it lacks a lignotuber and regenerates from seed rather than resprouting, so fire kills standing plants. Growth is moderate. Foliage is held year-round, and old grey cones persist on the branches. It tolerates poor sandy soils and short frosts but is sensitive to root-rot in wet ground.

Native Range

Native to south-eastern Australia, occurring in New South Wales and Victoria. Grows in dry sclerophyll forest, woodland, and heath, often on sandstone-derived sandy and gravelly soils on slopes and ridges.

Suggested Uses

Grown in native gardens, on sandy and sandstone soils, and in revegetation, spaced 8-16 feet (2.5-5 m) apart. Used as a screening shrub or small tree and as a nectar plant for honeyeaters and small mammals. The flower spikes are used as cut flowers.

How to Identify

Recognised by narrow linear leaves 1.2-4 inches (3-10 cm) long with white-hairy undersides and usually three-toothed tips, and by cylindrical gold flower spikes 3-6 inches (8-15 cm) tall with dark purple-black hooked styles. The single-trunked, tree-like habit and absence of a lignotuber separate it from Banksia spinulosa, which is lower and multi-stemmed with a lignotuber.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height10' - 26'

Width/Spread8' - 16'

Reaches mature size in approximately 8 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~10 weeks

Fall Winter

Flowers mainly in autumn and winter, March to July, with the gold and dark-styled spikes opening from the base upward over two to three weeks. Spikes hold nectar that draws birds and small mammals. Flowering is heavier in open, sunny positions.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

gold with purple-black styles

Foliage Description

dark green above, white beneath

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-10 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 Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

5-8 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade on free-draining sandy or gravelly soils low in phosphorus and tolerates short frosts once established. Watering through the first one to two summers aids establishment, after which little supplementary water is needed. Like other Banksia spp., it is sensitive to phosphorus, and standard phosphate fertilisers can damage the roots. It is susceptible to Phytophthora cinnamomi root rot in poorly drained soils. Because it lacks a lignotuber, fire or cutting to the base kills the plant rather than prompting regrowth. Growth is moderate.

Pruning

Light pruning of flowered stems shapes the plant and removes spent spikes. Because it lacks a lignotuber, it does not resprout from the base, so cutting into bare old wood or to ground level kills the plant. Pruning is kept to leafy growth above the lowest foliage.

Pruning Schedule

winter