| Regional: |
Not widespread. Noted in Munderoo district and Bringenbrong-Khancoban district. Historical records indicate
it once existed around Narrandera. |
| Australia: |
NSW, Vic, Tas, SA. |
| Habitat: |
Dry sclerophyll forest. |
| Habit: |
Compact shrub or small tree to 12 m high. |
| Site Preference: |
Most soils in cultivation, tolerating some waterlogging, frost and wind. Full sun or partial shade.
Grows more spindly in shady sites. |
| Characteristics: |
Fast-growing compared to other banksias, and long-lived. Fire retarder. Attributes strongly influenced by
provenance (locality), including presence or absence of lignotuber. Tolerates frost, and short periods of
waterlogging. |
| Flowering: |
Pale yellow, Feb-Jul. Profuse and honey-scented. |
| Seed Collection: |
Early Feb to late Apr. Seed released 3-8 weeks after maturity. |
| Propagation: |
From fresh seed (± 125 viable seeds per gram) or cuttings of firm young growth. Fresh seeds firm and
white when cut in two. Old seeds pliable or brittle and cream-coloured. Enhance germination by stratifying seeds
in moist paper or sand in refrigerator for 6-10 weeks. Sow Oct to Feb. Seedlings susceptible to fungal damage.
Prick out as soon as first true leaves appear. |
| Regeneration: |
After fire, from seed or re-shooting from lignotuber, if present. Can be direct-sown, but establishes better
from tubestock. |
| Shade & Shelter: |
Useful medium-level cover in windbreaks. |
| Fuel: |
Not generally used. Records from mid-nineteenth century note its 'uselessness' as a fuel. |
| Timber: |
Soft, spongy and red. Weighs little when dry. Generally unsuitable for commercial timber production due
to inadequate size and spongy wood. Tends to warp severely upon drying, but can be turned if seasoned carefully. |
| Wildlife: |
Seeds eaten by cockatoos (particularly Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo). All banksias produce copious nectar,
favoured by honeyeaters and lorikeets. Birds are main pollinators, and banksias provide excellent means of maintaining
bird populations during flowering. Native moths, butterflies and pygmy possums are attracted to flowers as a
food source. |
| Ornamental: |
Attractive specimen for parks and gardens. Decorative seed cones used in floral arrangements.
Used in bonsai. Excess phosphorous damages or kills plants. Iron deficiency is common and shows as yellow
leaves with green veins. Feed with iron chelate to rectify. Resents pruning. |
| Koori: |
Flower cones soaked in water in wooden vessels to extract sweet nectar for a drink, or sucked directly.
Dry cones used as strainers. |
| Other: |
Leaves produce yellow dye, with alum as a mordant. Cut flowers or foliage. |
