Banksia media

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Plant
ID 1434 Banksia media
Botanic Name Banksia media
Common Name Southern Plains Banksia
Family Name Proteaceae
Cultivars Prostrate Form
Origin Western Australia, Zone 8-10
Growth Type Shrub
Bark Type Fissured or Wrinkled
Foliage Type Evergreen Water Use Low
No. of Species 75
Growth Habit Upright-bushy Growth Rate Fast
Height 4 - 10 m (13 - 33 ft) Spread 3 m (10 ft)
Plant Overview
This shrub to small tree has an upright habit with a greyish trunk and no lignotuber and forms a bushy habit. It has oblong dark green toothed leaves and the golden yellow tube-shaped flowers appear in cylindrical spike from autumn to winter.
Leaf
Type Simple Additional Information
Shape Cuneate
The glossy dark green leaves are narrow cuneate to obovate with slightly recurved margins and a truncate apex. The petiole is short and the texture is leathery with some pubescence in pits on the underside.
Arrangement Alternate
Margin Serrate
Colour Glossy dark green
Size 40 - 120 mm ( 1.6 - 4.7 in )
Flower
Perfume Odorless Additional Information
Shape Tubulate
The small tubulate flowers are yellow with a cream style and are arranged in a terminal cylindrical spike up to 200 mm (8 in) long and 70 mm (2 3/4 in) wide. They appear from summer to winter and old flowers are persistent on the plant.
Inflorescence Spike
Colour Yellow Rich
Size 30 - 40 mm ( 1.2 - 1.6 in )
Flowering in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fruit
Type Follicle Additional Information
Colour Brown
The embedded elliptical follicle tends to be concealed and covered in rough hairs at first becoming glabrous. The obovate notched seed is up to 35 mm (1 1/2 in) long with a curved wing.
Edible No
Bird Attractive Yes
Size 15 - 25 mm ( 0.6 - 1.0 in )
Fruiting in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Environment & Cultivation
Natural Soil Well drained moderately fertile moist sandy to clay loams, limestone soils
Container Not normally, may be grown in pots, tubs, planter boxes
Climate Warm temperate
Aspect Full sun to semi shade, open position, drought and salt tolerant, frost tender
Pest & Diseases Twig girdler, phytophthora rot, the plant dies after fire but seeds germinate
Fertiliser Not normally required, use native plant food if grown in a container
Pruning Tolerates a light prune during spring after flowering to promote a bushy habit
Cultural Uses Propagation
The Southern Plains Banksia is a adaptable shrub to small tree that is grown for its flowers and is planted in parks and gardens as a specimen or in shrub borders tolerating some shade. It establishes in 3 to 5 years from seed.
Fresh seed should be sown in a well-drained media and the kept moist but not wet. Maintain a temperature of 18 to 21 C (64 to 75 F) in an unheated glasshouse or open frame. Germination occurs within 3 weeks to 3 months depend on the species.
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