SafePlants

Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata)

Considerations for Pets

• The leaves can have spiky or smooth margins.
• Some texts mention "finely-toothed long foliage."

Considerations for Children

• The dried flowers of Banksia trees are well-known as the inspiration for the "banksia men" in children’s stories.

Quirky Facts

• Silver Banksia plants are highly efficient in phosphate management, excelling at phosphate saving.
• At 10cm in height, the flower spike of the Silver Banksia is one of the smallest in the Banksia genus.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Banksia marginata
• Common Names: Silver Banksia, Honeysuckle
• Family: Proteaceae
• Synonyms: Banksia gunnii Meisn.
• Derivation of Name:
  • Banksia: After Sir Joseph Banks.
  • marginata: From Latin marginatus, meaning bordered, referring to recurved leaf margins.

Distribution and Habitat

• Found throughout much of Australia.
• Grows well on sandy soils.
• Once covered large tracts of land across southern Australia.

Morphological Characteristics

• Variable in form, ranging from a small shrub (0.5m high) to a tree (up to 10 meters tall).
• Can occur as a shrub, a flat-lying plant, or a tree.
• Bark: Smooth brown-grey.
• Leaves: Long green leaves with silver undersides (hence the common name). Underside of the leaves are white. Leaves can have spiky or smooth margins.
• Flowers: Pale yellow, lemon flower spikes. Inflorescences have up to 1000 flowers that open sequentially.
• Grows to 9 m (29ft 6in).

Ecological Role

• Pollination: By nectar-feeding birds, bees, and other insects.

Other Details

• Flowering Time: August to December.
• Hardiness: Hardy to zone (UK) 9 and is frost tender. Wind firm and frost resistant. Good drainage required.
• Producing high quality seed.
• Styles are straight which distinguish it from the Hairpin.

Further Information

• Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne holdings
• APNI (Australian Plant Name Index)
• Urrbrae Wetland
• Wee Garden
• South West Slopes Revegetation Guide Information