About
Banksia petiolaris is a low-growing, spreading plant characterized by its elongated, narrow, leathery leaves, which exhibit a grey to silver hue beneath and feature serrated edges. Its vibrant yellow flowers emerge as prominent spikes, standing apart from the surrounding foliage, adding a unique touch to ground cover. For optimal growth, this species requires well-drained, low-nutrient soil, ideally sandy, and thrives in full sunlight. While it can tolerate highly alkaline soils, like many members of the Proteaceae family, it is sensitive to phosphorus.
About the genus
Banksia are perennial shrubs and trees characterized by tough, glossy leaves that can be simple or pinnately lobed. They produce numerous small, tubular flowers grouped in dense spikes that create prominent, cone-shaped inflorescences, which eventually give way to woody fruit clusters.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H2
Plant details
- Plant type
- Conservatory Greenhouse, Shrubs
- Habit
- Clump forming, Matforming
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Gravel garden, Rock garden
- Native to
- W Australia
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Requires frost-free conditions, but can tolerate drought and salty wind. Outdoors, grow in free-draining, neutral to acid soil that is low in phosphates and nitrates, in full sun. Under glass grow in equal parts peat-free, loam-based potting compost, grit and peat substitute in full light with good ventilation. Apply half-strength, phosphate-free fertiliser once a month while in growth and avoid using any manure-based products for cultivation which can be high in phosphates
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1 or pruning group 8
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed sown singly in small containers at 18C in spring or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer with bottom heat
- Pest resistance
- Generally problem free
- Disease resistance
- Outdoors may suffer from phytophthora root rot