Browse plants / Proteaceae
Wallum banksia Banksia aemula
When it flowers
- January, not flowering
- February, not flowering
- March, flowering
- April, flowering
- May, flowering
- June, flowering
- July, flowering
- August, not flowering
- September, not flowering
- October, not flowering
- November, not flowering
- December, not flowering
Coastal banksia with gnarled bark, glossy toothed leaves and greenish-yellow spikes.
Similar to old man banksia but with smaller, shinier leaves and pale yellow spikes. It grows naturally in deep coastal sand and handles salt wind, which makes it a good choice for seaside gardens with sandy soil.
In the garden
- Attracts
- Birds and pollinating insects
- Flowers
- Greenish-yellow to pale gold spikes, 10 to 20 cm long.
- Leaves
- Glossy, stiff, finely toothed leaves; rough, gnarled bark.
Growing conditions
- Climate
- Subtropical and temperate
- Light
- Full sun
- Soil
- Sandy
- Drainage
- Needs good drainage
- Frost
- Light frost
- Water
- Very drought tolerant
- Coast
- Exposed to salt spray
Planting and care
- Grown from
- Seed
Planting
Full sun in deep sand. Doesn't suit clay or poorly drained soil.
Pruning
Tip prune young plants to encourage branching. Cut spent cones or picked flowers just behind the spike, leaving leaves on the stem; it doesn't regrow well from bare wood.
Care
Use a low-phosphorus native fertiliser, if any. Water through dry spells for the first year only.
Where it comes from
- Family
- Proteaceae
- Order
- Proteales
- Native to
- New South Wales and Queensland
- Natural range
- Coastal sand dunes and wallum heath from K'gari (Fraser Island) to the NSW central coast.
Where to buy
Specialist native nurseries.
We don't have stockists listed for this plant yet. Local native nurseries are often the best place to ask.
Help improve this page
Spotted a mistake, or know something we don't? Everything is checked by a moderator before it goes live.
Further reading
- Banksia aemula on the Atlas of Living Australia (Atlas of Living Australia)
Native nurseries near you
An independent list of nurseries that specialise in Australian native plants. Nobody pays to be on it. Distances are approximate and in a straight line. Opening hours and stock vary, so check before you go.