Banksia hookeriana
Hooker's banksia
Southwestern Australia (northern sandplains, Western Australia)
Overview
Banksia hookeriana is an evergreen shrub in the Proteaceae family, growing 5-10 feet (1.5-3 m) tall and 5-8 feet (1.5-2.4 m) wide with a dense, rounded, many-stemmed form. The leaves are narrow and strap-like, 4-7 inches (10-18 cm) long and about 0.4 inch (1 cm) wide, with finely toothed margins and a whitish underside. Flower spikes are cylindrical to acorn-shaped, 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) tall, opening from white woolly buds to bright orange as the individual flowers expand from the base upward. Flowering occurs mainly in autumn and winter. After flowering, woody fruiting cones bearing raised follicles develop and hold their seed until heat from fire triggers release, a trait common in Banksia spp. from fire-prone sandplains. The species is frost tender and grows in deep, sharply drained sand; it is sensitive to soil phosphorus and to root pathogens such as Phytophthora cinnamomi in poorly drained ground. Plants reach flowering size in about 3-4 years from seed. The flower spikes are harvested commercially for the cut-flower trade.
Native Range
Banksia hookeriana is native to Western Australia, where it grows on the deep yellow sand of the northern sandplains between Geraldton and Eneabba. Its distribution is restricted to this part of the state's mid-west coast.Suggested Uses
Grown as a feature shrub in low-water and coastal gardens and in dedicated cut-flower plantings, spaced 5-8 feet (1.5-2.4 m) apart. It suits sandy, sloping sites where drainage is rapid. The long-stemmed orange spikes are used in fresh and dried floral work.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4'11" - 9'10"
Width/Spread4'11" - 7'11"
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Green with pale undersideGrowing 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
Grows in full sun in deep, sharply drained sandy soil with an acidic to neutral pH of 5.5-7.0. Established plants need little water and tolerate extended dry summers, reflecting their sandplain origin. The species is sensitive to soil phosphorus, so high-phosphorus fertilisers are not used and low-phosphorus native formulations are applied instead. Wet or compacted soils encourage Phytophthora spp. root rot, so rapid drainage matters. It is frost tender and grows in warm-temperate and Mediterranean climates rather than areas with hard frost.Pruning
Light pruning after flowering, cutting spent spikes back to a leafy node, maintains a compact shape. Like many western Banksia spp., it does not reshoot readily from bare old wood, so cuts stay within leafy growth. Harvesting flower stems serves as the main form of pruning in cultivation.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winterearly spring