Banksia ericifolia (Heath-leaved banksia)

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Banksia ericifolia

heath-leaved banksia

Proteaceae Coastal New South Wales

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–10

Overview

Banksia ericifolia is a dense evergreen shrub growing 6.5-20 feet (2-6 m) tall and 6.5-13 feet (2-4 m) wide, with an upright, bushy form and crowded branchlets. The narrow, heath-like leaves are 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) long, dark green above with a paler underside and two small notches at the tip, packed densely along the stems. Cylindrical flower spikes 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) tall and about 2 inches (5 cm) wide carry thousands of slender flowers in shades from orange to red-gold, opening from autumn into winter and drawing nectar-feeding birds. As each spike ages it greys and develops woody seed follicles that often stay closed until heated by fire. Native to coastal heath and woodland of central and northern New South Wales, it grows on sandy, low-nutrient soils and is sensitive to high phosphorus. It tolerates wind, salt, and dry spells once established but is damaged by hard frost and resents heavy, poorly drained ground.

Native Range

Native to coastal central and northern New South Wales, Australia, where it grows in heath, scrub, and open woodland on sandy, low-nutrient soils near the coast.

Suggested Uses

Planted as a screen, windbreak, or single shrub in coastal and native gardens on free-draining sandy soils. Its nectar-rich spikes draw honeyeaters and other birds, and the spikes are cut for use in floristry.

How to Identify

Identify Banksia ericifolia by its dense narrow heath-like leaves with two small notches at the tip, its bushy upright habit, and its upright cylindrical flower spikes of orange to red-gold from autumn into winter. Aging spikes turn grey and form woody seed follicles along the old cone.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6'6" - 20'

Width/Spread6'6" - 13'

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Fall Winter

Cylindrical flower spikes open from autumn into winter, mainly April to July in the southern hemisphere. Each spike holds thousands of slender orange to red-gold flowers that draw honeyeaters and other nectar birds over several weeks before greying and forming woody follicles.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

orange to red-gold

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 loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

4-6 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Banksia ericifolia in full sun in sharply drained sandy or gravelly soil that is low in phosphorus. Established plants tolerate wind, salt, and dry spells and need little water once settled. Phosphorus-rich fertilisers and heavy, wet soils can kill it, so low-phosphorus native blends are used where feeding is needed. It is sensitive to hard frost and suits frost-free to light-frost coastal climates. A light trim after flowering keeps the shrub dense. It is grown from seed released from the woody follicles, often after heat treatment.

Pruning

Prune lightly after flowering to shape the shrub and keep it bushy, cutting into leafy wood rather than bare old stems. Unlike some banksias it does not reshoot strongly from a lignotuber, so hard cutting into leafless wood is slow to recover.

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Unknown