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The Tennis Ball banksia or Golden Ball Banksia is a bushy shrub of 1-3.5 metres in height that produces round yellow flowers often in clusters in the Autumn months.
Foliage consists of long narrow leaves with sharp saw-toothed margins, new growth occurs in summer.
Prefers well-drained sandy soil in an open sunny position. Drought and wind tolerant, suited to coastal conditions and soils.
Occurs naturally in the semi-arid regions of Coolgardie, Esperance Plains and Mallee in the Eremaean and South-West Provinces of Western Australia.
Conservation: Banksia laevigata subsp laevigata is currently classified as Priority Four - Rare: taxa which are considered to have been adequately surveyed and which, whilst being rare (in Australia), are not currently threatened by any identifiable factors. These taxa require monitoring every 5–10 years. When recorded for the Banksia Atlas, many populations were noted to be small (less than 100 plants). (Source Association Of Societies For Growing Australian Plants)
The best time to sow Banksia seeds is autumn or spring. Sow in contains and transplant when they are big enough to handle.
The growing medium should be well draining but should remain damp between watering. Banksia dislikes wet roots, so don't overwater them, or they will rot.
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.
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.
Pre-treatment of smoke is not critical to the germination of this species. However, many members of the Proteaceae family are responsive to the pre-treatment of smoke.
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. Smoke treatments are available by clicking here.
*Please note:
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