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BANKSIA benthamiana 250 Seed
Priority 4: Rare, Near Threatened
Bentham's Banksia
Family: Proteaceae
Characteristics: Spreading shrub to 1.8 to 4 m
Seed per packet: 5
Sold by seed count
There are about 75 species of Banksia in Australia, of which about 80% occur only in Western Australia.
Banksia benthamiana is a non-lignotuberous shrub with serrated leaves 10-25 cm long which are densely covered in hairs when young.
Yellow-orange to orange-brown flowers 5-10 cm tall occur from November to January.
Prefers well-drained soil in an open sunny position. Avoid waterlogged soils.
Grows in sandy loam, clay-loam, yellow sand and gravel.
Occurs naturally in the Avon Wheatbelt and Yalgoo in Western Australia.
Conservation code: Priority 4: Rare, Near Threatened.
Specimens of Banksia were first collected by Sir Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, the naturalists on the Endeavour during Lieutenant (later Captain) James Cook's first voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Cook landed on Australian soil for the first time on 29 April 1770
Banksia benthamiana was first formally described in 1964 by Charles Gardner in the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia. The original specimens were collected in January 1940 near Dalwallinu in honour of George Bentham (1800–1884), author of Flora Australiensis.
Banksia are easy to propagate from seed.
The best time to sow Banksia seeds is autumn or late winter to spring.
- Sow in native root traning pots.
- The growing medium should be well draining.
- Sow the seed flat around 5mm deep.
- Vermiculite is an excellent medium to cover the surface as it helps retain moisture and controls the temperature.
- Keep warm a moist.Banksia dislikes wet roots, so do not overwater them, or they will rot.
- Transplant the seedlings when they are big enough to handle.
Germination should occur in 14-40 days at 20-25°C
* Pre-germination of seeds by sowing into a closed container containing moist vermiculite or similar material is also helpful for germinating seeds, particularly for winter sowing when outdoor temperatures may be unsuitable. Germination usually occurs in 1-2 weeks using this method, and when the root has reached about a centimetre or so in length, the seedling can be placed into a small pot of seed-raising mix.
Smoke treatments are simple and can be undertaken by soaking the seed overnight or applying it to the surface after sowing; both provide good results.
Please note:
- Please do not be too hasty to discard seeds that do not germinate; seeds will often lie dormant until the conditions are similar to their natural germination requirements.
- As with all seeds, they must have adequate water to germinate, keep them moist, but not too wet.
- These growth notes are provided as guidance only and do not guarantee successful germination.
- The customer should do their due diligence that they are suited to their region.
Importing to Tasmania Prohibited