banksia integrifolia

[Albo]

Ive had this (what I think is banksia integrifolia) since about 2019.
Thought I had killed it and planted it in the front yard just in case. Lucky I did as after about 6 months I noticed it had put out new shoots.
I dug it up in early 2022 and put it into a pot.
I have slowly been reducing the height. Haven’t worried about branching. It has bee fertilised regularly with power feed and straight up Ozmocote. No native fert.
I’ve been using this as somewhat of a tester and have seen how hardy Banksia can be.
It’s always had small leaves. Not sure if this is a natural variant or just a result of my continuous cut back?

In a nice Denise Egerton pot now.

[Ryceman3]

Same tree?
If so, keep doing what you’re doing… it’s working well!

[Albo]

Yep same tree, that’s less than 2 years in those photos.

[Grant Bowie]

Your are well on your way there. Good going.

[Albo]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I wasn’t sure I was going about it the right way and had just been lucky.
It’s basically been water, fertilise let it grow out then cut back. Repeat.
I have 2 larger ones that I will be able to take the same grow out/cut back approach with now.

[Albo]

I’ve had this one a while. Been considering cutting it down to the yellow line as it pretty straight above that. It will back bud on the old wood.
What do you guys think?

[Grant Bowie]

You could let it thicken up a bit more and cut it in January.

Grant

[Albo]

Thanks Grant, I think that’s a good idea.
If I cut it now it’ll stop and I do want it thicker.

[Rory]

Integrifolia just don’t make good shohin in my opinion.
I’ve not seen a great integrifolia shohin.
I’d keep it as a larger tree, because of the leaf size.
Each to their own.

I’ve seen how much people can try and reduce the leaf size by constantly cutting it back to within an inch of its life and only allow the minimal leaf spread to remain, but for integrifolia it just keeps the health too low for a tree that needs a lot of foliage for its health and for a healthy root system. The leaf reduction is only ever temporary as well, as it eventually grows the leaves a lot larger.

I could be proven wrong, but I’d want to see stages photos of a well kept shohin that doesn’t look badly out of proportion to be proven wrong.

[Albo]

Rory, your advice must have resonated with me because I decided to keep this one a bit bigger. Can always go the chop later if I want. And I do have two others on the smaller side.
Picked up a handmade pot from Denise Egerton and did its first rough styling.
I like the paring. Will see how it develops.

[Rory]

Looking good mate. Is that sphagnum moss on the top?? Get rid of that. You do not want to keep banksia roots overly moist or damp. Your tree is in a large mix compared to the amount of foliage left on it. The last thing it needs is retained moisture ; as with most Banksia, it wants to have pulled all the water out of the pot by days end.

Just be warned that if you don’t like reverse taper or bulging, you will probably get it at the middle of your trunk where you have a heap of branches coming out at the same junction. I like the look of moderate bulging on Banksia, but not heavily so.
Integrifolia will bulge very quickly, and it’s really hard to rectify without a long time period and a lot of cutting back.

Banksia shohin are definitely an option to strive for.
But personally I’d go with the following if you want to have a small Banksia:

Banksia marginata
Banksia ericifolia ’little Eric’

Banksia integrifolia has a dwarf variant called ‘sentinel’ which is also better for smaller bonsai, but it still has somewhat larger leaves, but the internodes are usually shorter so you get more options in a smaller tree.

[Albo]

Thanks for the tips Rory. I don’t mind a bit of bulging on banksia as well, but not too much. Will keep an eye on that. Interesting to hear about the dwarf form of integrifolia (Sentinel). I’ll look for that as well. I’m wondering if I have one already? I’ve had an Integrifolia for about 4 years and its leaves have never grown as large as my other 2 Integrifolia. See them side by side in the photo.
I never kept the label when I bought it and didn’t really pay attention to that detail back then.

Another question, do Integrifolia ever strike from cuttings or air layers? Have you ever tried and had success?

[Rory]

It doesn’t look like sentinel.
Integrifolia sentinel “usually” has a shorter leaf, but wider (wider as in relative to the leaf size). The serrations aren’t usually as obvious on sentinel from young foliage. But there’s always going to be variations . But usually the tell tale sign of a sentinel is the shorter stockier appearance of the foliage.

This is standard integrifolia

IMG_5518.jpeg

When you see them side by side it’s more apparent what to look for to get an ID

IMG_5519.jpeg

And this photo is integrifolia ‘sentinel’