I have a couple of species of Banksia I have started from seed that I purchased from the Banksia Farm, in Mount Barker WA, last year in Autumn at an open day.
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.
A specimen of the low coastal form in the field at the Banksia Farm May 2022
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.
This is the standard form of Epica at the Banksia Farm May 2022
The foliage
The fissured bark
I'm excited to grow these species and see what happens.
Cheers, Patrick
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Trialling WA Native Banksia Species From Seed
- dansai
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Re: Trialling WA Native Banksia Species From Seed
Good job Pattrick. They look nice and healthy too. Would love to see these progress. Especially the B. grandis. Its been a species that caught my eye many years ago, but I don't think its worth me even trying in my warm, humid east coast environment.
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Re: Trialling WA Native Banksia Species From Seed
These went into the next size pots some months ago. All going well, starting to get settled into the larger pots and grow now. Initial trunk movement wired into the Banksia Epicas but the Grandis aren't at that stage yet. They are going to be bigger trees.
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Re: Trialling WA Native Banksia Species From Seed
Hi Pat,
Any tips on germinating banksia seed?
I've collected some and am looking to try some for the "Native from seed" comp.
Thanks,
Jan.
Any tips on germinating banksia seed?
I've collected some and am looking to try some for the "Native from seed" comp.
Thanks,
Jan.
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Re: Trialling WA Native Banksia Species From Seed
Hi Jan, not really. These are the only ones I have tried, and I didn't do anything special. I knew they were fresh good quality seeds from the source, and also that they were local native species, so I just treated them as you would any seed. I just did the soak in water overnight, and then sowed them normally at the start of spring.
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Re: Trialling WA Native Banksia Species From Seed
The four banksia epicas are doing well right now. They are about ready to go up a pot size.
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Re: Trialling WA Native Banksia Species From Seed
They’re very nice looking Pat.
Thanks to you I’ve now got one of those Epicas on order… as well as some of the Eucs you’ve posted.
They don’t seem easy to acquire over here. But I’m determined to try my hand at many of your WA species again, now that I have a lot more sun.
Thanks to you I’ve now got one of those Epicas on order… as well as some of the Eucs you’ve posted.
They don’t seem easy to acquire over here. But I’m determined to try my hand at many of your WA species again, now that I have a lot more sun.
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
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Re: Trialling WA Native Banksia Species From Seed
Cool. It would be great if you can successfully grow them on your side. The eucs shouldn’t be too fussy, but my advice with the banksia’s is to keep them on the dry side as much as possible. (I’m sure you already know but never hurts to keep saying it). I’m still learning to manage my water right with these more sensitive species. Root rot from too much moisture for too long has been the cause of most of my fatalities. Slowly getting better at it each year.Rory wrote: ↑May 23rd, 2024, 7:26 pm They’re very nice looking Pat.
Thanks to you I’ve now got one of those Epicas on order… as well as some of the Eucs you’ve posted.
They don’t seem easy to acquire over here. But I’m determined to try my hand at many of your WA species again, now that I have a lot more sun.
- Rory
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- Favorite Species: Baeckea Phebalium Casuarina & Banksia
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Re: Trialling WA Native Banksia Species From Seed
Ditto. Its usually the most common cause of Banksia death I see with newbies and people new to Banksia.Patmet wrote: ↑May 24th, 2024, 10:05 amCool. It would be great if you can successfully grow them on your side. The eucs shouldn’t be too fussy, but my advice with the banksia’s is to keep them on the dry side as much as possible. (I’m sure you already know but never hurts to keep saying it). I’m still learning to manage my water right with these more sensitive species. Root rot from too much moisture for too long has been the cause of most of my fatalities. Slowly getting better at it each year.Rory wrote: ↑May 23rd, 2024, 7:26 pm They’re very nice looking Pat.
Thanks to you I’ve now got one of those Epicas on order… as well as some of the Eucs you’ve posted.
They don’t seem easy to acquire over here. But I’m determined to try my hand at many of your WA species again, now that I have a lot more sun.
They don't realize how often Banksia can go for a long time on drought conditions. Fast drainage is the key with these beauties.
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227