After such a cold, miserable Sunday, it was hard to sit down and get inspired to write on Monday, but a wander among the plants in the Garden Centre soon changed that.
Everything is looking great: the sun is out, plants are showing signs of new spring growth, flowers are popping up everywhere, and the New Holland honeyeaters are out in force, exploring the smorgasbord on offer.
It doesn’t take much to put a smile on my face, but seeing the last days of winter always does.
While strolling, I came across the banksias and thought about how underused they are in our region, yet many thrive here with the right conditions.
Banksias are known for their cylindrical flower spikes that look like candles standing out from the foliage.
These blooms last for months, attracting native wildlife, particularly birds and bees.
Banksias belong to the Proteaceae family, along with grevilleas, hakeas and proteas.
They thrive in well-drained, slightly acidic soil with low nutrient levels.
Their dense lateral rootlets absorb nutrients efficiently but make them vulnerable to overfeeding, especially phosphorus — something to remember when planting or feeding nearby.
Banksia Giant Candles is a favourite, with large coppery-orange spikes up to 40cm long.
This dense shrub grows to about 4m tall and wide, branching low to the ground.
It makes a striking feature and will bring honeyeaters to your garden in droves.
Banksia Birdsong is smaller and compact, growing 1m to 2m tall.
Shiny green foliage and yellow candles open to burnt-orange flowers from mid-autumn to late winter.
The plant can form a low, dense hedge or look spectacular mass-planted in full sun.
Banksia Red Alert has an upright habit, needle-like foliage and vibrant red-orange flowers in autumn and winter.
Growing 1.5m to 2m tall, it thrives in full sun and needs only occasional watering once established.
Banksia Mini Marg is a dwarf form of Banksia marginata.
It keeps the dense foliage and narrow green leaves, silver-grey underneath, flowering from summer to autumn with bright yellow spikes that rise above the foliage.
Some banksias make excellent ground covers.
Banksia blechnifolia spreads over 2m², with branchlets lying on the ground and deeply lobed leaves standing 30cm to 40cm high.
Frosted orange cones bloom in late winter to spring, making it an eye-catching feature in full sun or part shade.
Banksia petiolaris is another striking ground cover, with bright yellow flowers contrasting against serrated silver-grey foliage.
Its dense, horizontal stems make it ideal for steep banks, adding both interest and erosion control.
Adding banksias to your garden not only introduces colour and texture across seasons but also attracts a wealth of native birds.
Choosing a mix of varieties that flower at different times ensures a garden that looks beautiful year-round — and keeps the birds coming back for more.
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