Favourites: Banksia media |
11 August 2007 1:36 PM
Trying to grow Western Australian banksias in the east, particularly in areas east of the Great Dividing Range, is often an exercise in futility. But not always....Banksia media is one that can be grown very successfully in a sunny position in soils with good drainage. Don't expect it to succeed in wet clays. It is a attractive, bushy, medium shrub which flowers in winter to produce very large, orange flower spikes which open to yellow. The spikes are usually on terminal stems so they are good for cut flowers. Needless to say, the honeyeaters love the flowers.
Banksia media grows naturally along the south cost of Western Australia and can reach about 4 metres in height although I've never seen one in an eastern garden more than about 2 metres high. There is also a prostrate form in the wild but I haven't seen this in cultivation. The species is closely related to B.praemorsa and B.epica.
A few years ago the old 'Gumnuts' email newsletter had a 'favourite plants' section where readers could tell others about their favourite Australian native plants. It was a good idea then and I think it might also be interesting now. If you have a plant or two that you particularly like and that might be useful for others, drop me an email.
Previous Favourites
Correa 'Mannii'Myoporum floribundum
Hibbertia diffusa
Callistemon 'Injune'
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