This is a tree that is an emblem of Australia to me. It can be a little scruffy, but (as with many Australian natives) it has a random charm to it-the flowers look awesome and it can survive fire through the ability to reshoot from a lignotuber. The flowers are also a source of food for wildlife. Coming from England originally, this is totally different to what I grew up with, which is what appeals about all native Australian plants, not just this particular species. The binomial name has the following meaning; ‘Banksia’-is after the naturalist Joseph Banks, who collected specimens from Botany Bay, with ‘serrata’ is latin for ‘saw-edged’ for the saw-like leaf margins. It is native to eastern Australia, from Queensland in the north to Tasmania in the South.

A description of the tree is as follows:

• Leaves-arranged spirally, oblong to oblanceolate with evenly serrated margins, 5-20 cm long, leathery, dark green on top of the leaves, the underneath pale green, new groeth paler and tomentose (covere in short wooly hairs)
• Flowers-grey-green in colour, the tubular flowers are held in an upright spike, 10-15 cm tall, from December to March (spring to autumn here in Australia). Up to 30 follicles form, remaining shut until burnt or the inflorescence falls to the ground.
• Environment-open forest, heath and coastal dunes, full dun to semi-shade, tolerates first line salt (can live right on the coast, not all plants can), wind and moderate frost
• Distribution-coastal areas from Wilsons Promantory in Victoria north to southern Queensland. In Sydney, it appears further inland on the sandstone soils of the area.
• Soil-well-drained, acidic, low phosphorous soils, tolerates sandy/gravelly soils and drought, can be grown in pots and as bonsai
• Propagation-seed, although this takes many years, cultivars like ‘Pygmy Possum’ are grown from cuttings that can be slow to strike (develop roosts and start growing)
• Problems-iron chlorosis in alkaline soil, can be susceptible to Phytophthora in wet, clay soils
• Uses-planted in sandy soils for shade and as a screen or street tree, for native Australian landscapes, and for attracting native Australian birds and insects
• Other-the bark is gnarled and warty, which is where it gets the common name of Old MAnn Banksi from, it can reach 16m inheight, but more usually is between 4-8m.

Overall, I think this is a great tree. I love native Australian plants and this is one of my favourites.

All photos are my own.

• Fairley, A., Moore, P., 2010, Native Plants of the Sydney Region, Third Edition, Jacana Books, Crows Nest, NSW, Australia
• Robinson, L., 2003, Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, Third Edition, Simon & Schuster (Australia)Pty Ltd, Cammeray, NSW, Australia