The banksia workshop

[Grainer]

I love Banksia.. I have
2 large Marginata
2 large Serrata & 2 smaller ones and
about 60 Integrifolia on the go atm (about 7-8 larger ones)

[Phil Rabl]

This is a really valuable thread. In case you have missed it, I did summary of AusBonsai posts on Banksia integrifolia viewtopic.php?f=69&t=27698 which drew heavily on Grant Bowie's landmark article on B. integrifolia which sits permanently on the top of the Banksia threads viewtopic.php?f=69&t=812 . If you are into integrifolias, have a look at the summary, it includes information from Grant that updates his thinking from that landmark article.

[Gerard]

I have lost a few seedlings over the years but once a fibrous root ball has been established they are really tough. I leave them alone in winter, re pot every year in November prune hard and use fertilizer sparingly. One of my integrifolias has been changed to bunjin, small pot with little soil and frequently pruned very hard. This is an old well established tree and the minimal style is probably a more realistic interpretation of how they grow along the coast locally, in any case I am having fun with it.
When visiting Cradle Mountain in 2016 I observed marginatas with jins. People have mentioned the difficulty healing scars but my approach is more likely to consider leaving a jin instead of a clean cut. Several of my banksias have jins.

[GavinG]

Photos please Gerard? I've lost banksias by pruning too hard, so I'm interested in what you get away with.

Gavin

[legoman_iac]

Curious, has anyone had success air layering banksia? My parents have a great big tree I could try.

- Daniel

[Grainer]

yes.. done and it works great all times I have tried.

[Gerard]

Photos please Gerard? I've lost banksias by pruning too hard, so I'm interested in what you get away with.

Gavin

IMG_3752.jpg

IMG_3753.jpg

IMG_3754.jpg

This is a tree I have grown in a larger pot for about 12 years, roots were very well established before I reduced the pot size and foliage. I am also pleased with my choice of pot with the colours of sand and water which I thought appropriate for a coastal banksia.

[squizzy]

Very cool Gerard

Squiz

[GavinG]

Thanks Gerard, and full marks for the tree, apart from that big leaf right at the top! The tree sits in the pot very well, and rises very gracefully. It reminds me of trees I saw by the acre just to the east of Perth. In the wild they don't seem to get thick like the bonsai B. serratas we all know and love.

Thanks again,

Gavin

[Rory]

I stumbled across this nice piece of material: Banksia brownii

It has very attractive foliage. But its from the southern side of WA. So I'm not holding my breath on this one.
This area with Banksias seem to be a bit problematic with me. Still, its worth a shot to see how I go with this one.

Banksia brownii.jpg

[greg27]

I stumbled across this nice piece of material: Banksia brownii

Keen to see how you go with this one Rory, I randomly saw this at a recent native plant sale and almost grabbed one.

[PeterH]

Is anyone using ericifolia,

This is an old pic and the tree has changed a little due to storm damage in 2019

[jofi]

Loving this topic - great info!!
Banksias are a very underrated bonsai species

[melbrackstone]

I love your shaping of that tree Gerard! Inspiring!

That's an outstanding tree, PeterH, thanks for sharing. I'm not sure I've seen that variety here, but it certainly looks the goods with the needle-like foliage.

[TimS]

I’m really not a fan of banksia as bonsai, but the effect of the small leaves of ericifolia is good. Certainly better than the large leaf ones