Banksia dallanneyi
couch honeypot
Overview
Banksia dallanneyi, long known as Dryandra lindleyana and commonly called couch honeypot, is a low, spreading evergreen shrub in the protea family from southwestern Western Australia. It grows 8-20 inches (20-50 cm) tall and spreads 3-6 feet (1-2 m) wide, often with prostrate branches that creep along the ground. The stiff leaves are long and narrow, 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) long, divided into many triangular lobes along each side, giving a saw-toothed outline. Dome-shaped flower heads about 1.5-2.5 inches (4-6 cm) across form among the leaves, often near ground level, in yellow to golden-brown, and hold nectar that draws honeyeaters and small mammals. Woody seed follicles develop in the old heads. The shrub regrows after fire from an underground lignotuber. It grows in sandy and gravelly soils of heath and woodland and needs sharp drainage and low phosphorus, declining in rich or wet ground. Its low spreading habit and ground-level flowers suit sandy banks, native rockeries, and groundcover plantings in dry-summer climates.
Native Range
Banksia dallanneyi is native to southwestern Western Australia, where it grows in heath, shrubland, and open woodland on sandy and lateritic gravelly soils. It occurs from near the coast to inland sandplains in a Mediterranean climate of wet winters and dry summers.Suggested Uses
Grown on sandy banks, in native rockeries, and as a low groundcover in dry-summer climates with other Western Australian natives. The ground-level nectar heads suit bird- and mammal-attracting plantings. A need for sharp drainage and low phosphorus limits its use in rich or heavy garden soils.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 1'8"
Width/Spread3' - 6'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs mainly from autumn to spring, when dome-shaped yellow to golden-brown heads form among the foliage. The low, partly hidden heads can be easy to overlook. Woody follicles then develop in the spent heads and hold seed for release after fire.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
yellow to golden-brownFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Banksia dallanneyi in full sun to light shade on sandy or gravelly, sharply drained soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5. Water during establishment, then sparingly, as the shrub tolerates dry summers and is intolerant of wet, poorly drained ground. Use low-phosphorus or native fertiliser, since members of the protea family are sensitive to phosphorus. Good airflow and lean soil reduce the risk of root rot. The lignotuber lets the plant resprout after light pruning or fire.Pruning
Prune lightly after flowering to shape the plant and remove old or damaged growth. The lignotuber allows harder cutting back than many proteas tolerate, with regrowth from the base. Detailed pruning is otherwise not needed on this low, spreading shrub.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons