Banksia sp.

[palmmermaid]

I recently saw a show that featured plants from Australia. Some of the most interesting ones were the various species of Banksia. Is anyone growing these in Florida or a climate like Florida? They are very interesting looking, resembling Proteas. I think they are related.

[Eric in Orlando]

They are in Proteaceae. We had a Banksia integrifolia. Planted it out in 2000 and it got to be about 15ft tall had had flowered for the last few years. But last summer it suddenenly died, don't know why. I need to find another. There are some other eastern Australian species that should grow here.

[Eric in Orlando]

If you are interested in Proteaceae, we are growing these;

Buckinghamia celsissima- Ivory Curl Tree (still young trees, no flowers)

Grevillea banksii- does great here, small tree only 20-25ft tall

Grevillea robusta- Silk-Oak, probably common in your area

Grevillea 'Orange Sparkler'- shrub with orange flowers, it is a hybrid; G. rosmarinifolia x G. 'Canberra Gem'

Grevillea 'Robyn Gordon' shrub with red flowers, makes hummingbirds grow crazy, grows very well for several years then dies, hybrid between G. bipinnatifidum and G. banksii var. forsteri

Hakea sericea- shrub with tiny white flowers

Macadamia sp.- a few species and hybrids

Stenocarpus sinuatus- Firewheel Tree- nice red flowers, ours is young, no flowers yet

Grevillea banksii

Grevillea 'Robyn Gordon'

Hakea sericea

[palmmermaid]

Eric,

Thanks for the info. Do you know if any of the proteas are poisonous? I love the flowers! And the Grevallias were also mentioned on the show.

[popper1]

I have a drawf form of Banksia spinulosa that only gets about 3' tall. It is an eastern Australian species & seems to do well. Many of the western Australian Banksia are very nice but they will not survive here. I have many of the Australian species Eric mentioned & many others. They do have nice natives down there.

[Justin]

Most Banksia will not do well in Florida due to the high humidity, and wet summers. The vast majority of Banksias are from Australia's mediterranean climates, and thus do well in Southern California (at least where there isn't clay soil).

Grevilleas are in the same boat, but tend to be much more forgiving.

Most proteaceae are not poisonous - Macadamia nut is the only one that I am aware of.

[chris.oz]

Most Banksia will not do well in Florida due to the high humidity, and wet summers. The vast majority of Banksias are from Australia's mediterranean climates, and thus do well in Southern California (at least where there isn't clay soil).

Grevilleas are in the same boat, but tend to be much more forgiving.

Most proteaceae are not poisonous - Macadamia nut is the only one that I am aware of.

Banksia prefer acid sand soils and have a love hate reltionship with lime. Some actually like to dip into limestone bedrock but to have it forced on them... they dont like it at all.

There are species which do grow in a high humidity environmment in damp soils.

I would recommend Bankia robur. Its a Southern Queensland species.

http://www.nurgapuukool.ee/pic/foorum/aust...nksia_robur.JPG