Banksia petiolaris

RHS Plant Profile

banksia

Conservatory Greenhouse Shrubs

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A slow-spreading, prostrate Banksia, with long narrow leathery green leaves that are grey to silver on the underside with saw-tooth margins. The bright yellow flowers protrude as distinct spikes, separate from the foliage, making this a highly decorative and unusual groundcover plant. To thrive it must have a very well drained, low nutrient soil, preferably sandy, with full sun. It can grow in very alkaline soils, but this Banksia like many Proteacecae is phosphorus sensitive

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Proteaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming, Matforming
Genus: Banksia are evergreen shrubs and trees with leathery, often handsome, simple or pinnately lobed leaves and many small tubular flowers in dense spikes forming showy, cone-like heads, followed by woody fruiting clusters
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: W Australia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Requires frost-free conditions, but can tolerate drought and salty wind. Outdoors, grow in free-draining, neutral to acid soil that is low in phosphates and nitrates, in full sun. Under glass grow in equal parts peat-free, loam-based potting compost, grit and peat substitute in full light with good ventilation. Apply half-strength, phosphate-free fertiliser once a month while in growth and avoid using any manure-based products for cultivation which can be high in phosphates

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown singly in small containers at 18C in spring or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer with bottom heat

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Gravel garden
Rock garden
Banks and slopes
Conservatory and greenhouse
Ground cover

Pruning

Pruning group 1 or pruning group 8

Pests

Generally problem free

Diseases

Outdoors may suffer from phytophthora root rot