banksia marginata ?

[craigw60]

I recently lifted some banksia from the ground, integrifolia, marginata and serrata. This was an experiment for me to see how these trees would work field grown. As some of you would know from a previous post the serrata took some coaxing and in the future I will grow these trees in boxes to save the messing around and besides they thicken so easily anyway. The integrifolia have been a huge success and have budded back from top to bottom I will be growing lots more of them in the ground in the future. Now the marginata all budded back then promptly died, I have never been able to grow this species for very long and they seem such ideal candidates for bonsai. Does anyone else have similar experience and is there any advice for their cultivation.
Also has anyone worked with integrifolia prostrate. I know its not a dwarf I have seen one in a garden and they get big. They could be great for making cascade banksia.
Craig

[bonscythe]

Hi Craig,
You're right about the B. integs, they bud everywhere!
With the B. marginata, I have read that although they are good hardy plants they don't like to be in a different climate to the one they are endemic to. Something to do with humidity or lack of it? (I don't know your climate well enough sorry!)
I think Grant mentions them on his Banksia as bonsai article too if that helps you at all..
Good luck

[bonscythe]

Forgot to add, I haven't seen a B. integrifolia prostrate but when I gave the standard B. integ's a bit of a wire down into a semi-cascade branch, it lost it's vigour and started to change from the nice dark green leaves to a light green, and while it did not die back, it didn't grow on either. However, the apical shoots (that were tipped at the same time) continued to grow strongly. Maybe if I removed them all and just kept the cascading branch it would of stuck but who knows now . I would love to see some cascading Banksia spp. as bonsai. You're just the type of bonsaist to do it judging by your other excellent Banksia!
Cheers

[craigw60]

Thanks Bonscythe,
I know what you mean about the banksia and cascades. Thats why I was curious about this prostrate form. the garden I saw it in it was tumbling down a wall and was a really big plant
Craig

[anttal63]

Thanks Bonscythe,
I know what you mean about the banksia and cascades. Thats why I was curious about this prostrate form. the garden I saw it in it was tumbling down a wall and was a really big plant
Craig

Hi craig; Sounds gorgeous, let me know if you find some!

marginata, yes once was enough for me!

[craigw60]

Hi Ant,
So I am not the only one to come to grief with marginata. I am off to the wholesalers this afternoon to pick up some tubestock so will check up on the prostrate integrifolia.
Craig

[anttal63]

Hi Ant,
So I am not the only one to come to grief with marginata. I am off to the wholesalers this afternoon to pick up some tubestock so will check up on the prostrate integrifolia.
Craig

No mate you are not the only one. Grant has written something on them somewhere, im sure he will chime in here. cool mate, look forward to hearing on the prostrate!