Banksia canei

This “holy grail plant” for hardy Proteaceae enthusiasts has been all too unavailable, even in relatively Protea-rich California. Hopefully we will have enough of a supply to please everyone in coming years. This shrub, which varies somewhat in form and foliage, but may reach about 6' tall and wide, is quite similar in many ways to B. marginata. The cream or yellow flower spikes may be a bit shorter than those of B. marginata, to just 2 - 3”, and more rounded. We can attest that it is no more challenging than the amenable B. marginata to grow, being an easy subject in full sun. The exciting part is that this species occurs at a higher altitude than any other Banksia, and it is the only species that occurs exclusively at high altitudes, where it is found in subalpine forests of Victoria and covered in snow every winter. It ought to be very well adapted to the Pacific Northwest, and in theory we can expect it to tolerate at least 15 °F and possibly lower with ease, though its exact hardiness has not yet been discovered.