Kingia australis
bullanock
Overview
Kingia australis is a slow-growing, trunk-forming monocot of southwestern Australia, eventually reaching 10-26 feet (3-8 m) tall over many decades, with a single stout trunk topped by a dense rounded crown 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) across. The trunk is built from the persistent bases of old leaves rather than true wood, and is often blackened by past fire. The crown carries hundreds of long, slender, grey-green leaves 1.5-3 feet (0.45-0.9 m) long that arch outward. After fire or in mature plants, many club-shaped flower heads rise on curved stalks 8-20 inches (20-50 cm) long in a ring around the crown, each a drumstick of small cream-white flowers. The species grows in jarrah and karri forest, granite outcrops, and seasonally wet heath on sandy and lateritic soils. Growth is extremely slow, with trunk height gained over centuries, so plants are long-term and not quickly replaced. It needs sharp drainage and tolerates the long summer drought of its homeland.
Native Range
Kingia australis is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It grows in jarrah and karri forest, on granite outcrops, and in seasonally wet heath and swamp margins on sandy and lateritic soils.Suggested Uses
Grown as a slow, sculptural specimen in native, dry, and courtyard gardens on free-draining soil. Used in large containers where winters are mild and drainage is sharp. Planted singly or in small groups as a long-term specimen.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height10' - 26'
Width/Spread3' - 6'
Reaches mature size in approximately 50 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Club-shaped cream-white flower heads appear mainly in spring, often after summer or autumn fire, on curved stalks ringing the crown. Many heads open together on a mature plant. Years can pass between flowering events, especially without fire.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 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
Kingia australis grows in full sun to light shade in sharply drained sandy or gravelly soil and tolerates long summer drought once established. It is adapted to low-nutrient soils and grows without added fertilizer, which can harm the roots. Cold hardiness is limited to about USDA zones 9-11, with frost a risk to young plants. Growth is extremely slow, so container and transplanted specimens are slow to establish and need patience. Sharp drainage is essential, as the roots rot in soils that stay wet in the warm season.Pruning
No pruning of the trunk or crown is undertaken, as the plant grows from a single growing point. Dead outer leaves can be left as a skirt or removed for appearance once they have dried. Spent flower stalks can be cut away after seed drop.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 15 gallons