The banksia farm is a property dedicated to banksias of all kinds owned and operated by Kevin and Kathy Collins. I was really inspired by my visit seeing the different forms of banksia, especially the dwarf (low coastal form) varieties of some banksia I was already familiar with. I purchased a few bags of seed, and a nice little Banksia Serrata I am training to become a bonsai.
The first is Banksia Grandis, commonly known as Bull Banksia. This is the dwarf/low coastal form which I think has promise for quite an interesting large scale bonsai - The standard Bull banksia has huge leaves, so this was a nice alternative. I have three of these that have survived germination.
![Image](http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230305/833e4273ca96301f1544dffa7e6d594a.jpg)
![Image](http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230305/7b1f20161315ac4a90cc78565bddd0da.jpg)
![Image](http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230305/c065bbdcf5c411223dccef6126511031.jpg)
A specimen of the low coastal form in the field at the Banksia Farm May 2022
![Image](http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230305/2212a6c0611442b159a1725af20e3e6d.jpg)
Next to my hand for scale
The other variety I have is Banksia Epica, and it is also the dwarf/low coastal form. This is a less common banksia species and is quite new to cultivation. Kevin Collins of the Banksia farm is actually said to have pioneered it's cultivation. I think it's characteristics are vert promising for bonsai. I have four of these that survived germination.
![Image](http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230305/0747286dd8b4221f14bd61f20acaf463.jpg)
![Image](http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230305/45e70d381d8386a39d77e3383f4214ba.jpg)
![Image](http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230305/dd754bac0eba9d59c2b22fcdb13ea708.jpg)
This is the standard form of Epica at the Banksia Farm May 2022
![Image](http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230305/9c82761310933c4a1b6dbf87b3d72338.jpg)
The foliage
![Image](http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230305/3dfe1bbf5649b360c782c4161e5983af.jpg)
The fissured bark
I'm excited to grow these species and see what happens.
Cheers, Patrick
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