Grevillea banksii

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Plant
ID 156 Grevillea banksii
Botanic Name Grevillea banksii
Common Name Bank's Grevillea
Family Name Proteaceae
Cultivars 'Alba','Flamingo','Honey Gem','Kingaroy Slippers','Mason' s Hybrid' Syn. Ned Kelly, 'Paddys Pink', 'Misty Pink','Moonlight','Peaches and Cream','Ruby Red','Sandra Gordon','Superb','Sylvia', 'Yamba Sunshine'
Origin Australia, South East QLD, Zone 9-11
Growth Type Shrub
Bark Type Woody
Foliage Type Evergreen Water Use Medium
No. of Species 365
Growth Habit Small dome / Mallee Growth Rate Fast
Height 2.5 - 4 m (8 - 13 ft) Spread 3 m (10 ft)
Plant Overview
This variable shrub to small tree has grey brown bark and forms open rounded bushy habit. It has slender lobed grey green leaves that are silvery underneath and the small red tube-shaped flowers appear in a cylindrical raceme from winter to spring.
Leaf
Type Simple Additional Information
Shape Lobed
The leaves are deeply pinnatisect with 9 to 11 lanceolate lobes up to 15 mm (5/8 in) long. The upper surface is covered in a fine silky hairs and underside is silvery-villous with a prominent mid-vein. The petiole is short.
Arrangement Alternate
Margin Recurved - Revolute
Colour Grey-green
Size 150 - 300 mm ( 5.9 - 11.8 in )
Flower
Perfume Odorless Additional Information
Shape Tubulate
The small tubulate flower has a pedicle up to 10 mm (3/8 in) long with villous oblong perianth segments, 4 stamens and a style to 50 mm (2 in) long that is hooked at the pollen presenter. The flowers are arranged in a cylindrical terminal raceme.
Inflorescence Raceme
Colour Crimson
Size 10 - 15 mm ( 0.4 - 0.6 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 sessile ovoid follicle is up to 10 mm (3/8 in) wide with a thin tomentose pericarp. The oblong seeds are up to 12 mm (1/2 in) long with a wing around the margin. The small seeds are viable but the plant is normally reproduced vegetatively.
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 sandy to clay loam, slightly acid, moist during summer, pH 5.5-7.0
Container Not normally but will grow in tubs and roof gardens
Climate Warm to sub-tropical
Aspect Full sun for best flowers, frost tender, drought, salt spray, humidity tolerant
Pest & Diseases Tip borer, sweating, leaf miner, scale, leaf spot, leaf scorch
Fertiliser Low phosphate or light application of blood and bone during spring, soak roots once every 2 weeks
Pruning Tolerates a light prune directly after flowering, care as old wood will not regenerate
Cultural Uses Propagation
Bank's Grevillea and its cultivars are grown for their colourful flowers and variable growth habit. It is planted in parks or gardens as a specimen or in shrub borders for screening and to attract birds. It is also used in coastal gardens.
Sow fresh seed during early spring and pre-soak seeds in heated water 13 to 18 C (55 - 64 F) for 24 hours. Seeds may require scarification (peeling treatment). Semi-hardwood cuttings during summer root quickly.
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