Banksia integrifolia

Also Known As

Coast Banksia

Plant type

tree, shrub

size

H: 10'-30'
W: 8'-30'

planting zones

8b-11

Banksia integrifolia plant details

Banksia integrifolia is a broadleaf evergreen shrub or tree with green foliage. In fall green and yellow flowers emerge. Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun and occasional - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer. Does well in average, gritty, lean and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something seaside / salt tolerant and wind tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Banksia integrifolia

Plant type: shrub or tree
Plant family: proteaceae
Foliage: evergreen green
Mature size: 8 FT - 30 FT - wide, 10 FT - 30 FT - tall
Flowers: green and yellow blooms in fall
Uses: container plant, cutting garden, dried-arrangements, houseplant, tropical-looking

GROWING CONDITIONS for Banksia integrifolia

USDA Zones: 8b - 11
Sun exposure: sun
Watering frequency: occasional - low
Resistant to: deer, seaside / salt and wind
Soil needs: average, gritty, lean and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Loveliest large shrub to small tree from southeastern Australia. This handsome protea, to about 15' or even more, has beautifully serrate leaves when young, later on becoming nearly entire with reflective, silver-white undersides. Once plants reach 3-4 years of age, "corncob" flowers appear, to 4-5" tall, held upright as candles. To us they smell of baking bread or...corn. To their pollinators, I suppose baking bread would smell very much like a banksia. Reliable in upper USDA zone 8; freezes back to its lignotuber at 15 °F. Where temperatures fall below, keep in a pot to bring inside. Bright light to dappled shade in sandy soil. As with all proteas, watch the phosphorus. We fertilize ours with alfalfa pellets.

By: Cistus Nursery

Remarkably fast growing, this large shrub/tree is native to coastal southeastern Australia, where it is found growing among the dunes. And so, it’s very salt spray tolerant, as well as tolerant of long periods of drought. Coastal Banksia grows to a multi-branching, 10-30’ tall with distinctive silver-backed (toothed while young, spatulate as it ages) foliage. The striking, cylindrical, 4”-6” blooms start out lime green & age to yellow & are borne late Summer thru Winter or thereabouts. The nectar rich blooms are very attractive to hummingbirds. Banksias are generally easier to grow than Proteas but do need excellent drainage. Fab cut flower fresh or dried.