Banksia ID Help

[Gerard]

Hopefully someone can help with identification of this banksia species

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On the right it is banksia integrafolia, the one on the left has been growing in the sane pot for the last couple of years until today. Its leaves are smaller and darker

[Pup]

Hi Gerard, it looks a lot like Banksia littoralis Swamp banksia

The discription is a small to medium tree to 12 mtres its somewhat iregular and gnarled trunk covered in rough grey crumbly bark. The leathery strappy leaves have a green upper surface, white to cream under surface, they are 100/200 mm long (they do reduce ) there teeth are irregular and more of the towards the end.

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Cheers I hope this helps Pup

[lacertilian]

If it turns out to be something other than the B. littoralis that Pup mentioned I would also look at Banksia marginata as a possibility.

[Gerard]

Thanks pup and lacertilian,
The bark on the littoralis looks to be more rough and powdery.
I looked up a few pictures of marginata and they have me convinced that we have a correct identification

[shibui]

If it was at my place I would also say B. marginata.
Our experiences up this way suggest marginata resents being dry. I have had quite a few suddenly die, mostly in spring when I have not kept watering up to the increasing needs of the plants and drier days. Another club member reports his marginatas do better in deeper pots rather than shallow. Not as tough as integrifolia but worth trying anyway.
B. marginata appears to have distinct inland and coastal forms. Our inland form can shoot back after fire but the coastal ones usually do not.