Browse plants / Proteaceae
Firewood banksia Banksia menziesii
Also called Menzies' banksia
When it flowers
- January, not flowering
- February, not flowering
- March, flowering
- April, flowering
- May, flowering
- June, flowering
- July, flowering
- August, flowering
- September, flowering
- October, not flowering
- November, not flowering
- December, not flowering
Small WA tree with acorn-shaped spikes in burgundy, pink or gold from autumn to spring.
Common around Perth on deep sand. The large flower spikes open from the base up, often deep pink or burgundy fading to grey, and are full of nectar for honeyeaters. Best in dry-summer climates with sandy soil.
In the garden
- Attracts
- Birds
- Flowers
- Squat spikes 4 to 12 cm tall in burgundy, pink or gold, opening from the base up.
- Leaves
- Long, stiff, saw-toothed grey-green leaves; new growth furry and rusty.
Growing conditions
- Climate
- Dry summers (Mediterranean)
- Light
- Full sun
- Soil
- Sandy
- Drainage
- Needs good drainage
- Frost
- Light frost
- Water
- Very drought tolerant
- Coast
- Sheltered coastal gardens
Planting and care
- Grown from
- Seed and grafting
Planting
Full sun in deep, sandy, free-draining soil. In humid or heavy-soil gardens choose a grafted plant, or grow it in a raised bed of sandy soil with good air movement.
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. Avoid summer watering once established; prone to root rot in wet soil.
Where it comes from
- Family
- Proteaceae
- Order
- Proteales
- Native to
- Western Australia
- Natural range
- Deep sands of the Swan Coastal Plain and nearby, from Perth north to Kalbarri.
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.
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Further reading
- Banksia menziesii 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.