Banksia spinulosa 'Birthday Candles'

RHS Plant Profile
Australian honeysuckle 'Birthday Candles'

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Australian honeysuckle 'Birthday Candles' RHS
Shrubs
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A compact, mounding, evergreen shrub to around 50cm tall with linear, needle-like, dark green leaves and cylindrical, bottlebrush-like orange-yellow to brown flowerheads

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
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)
H3
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
Bushy
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
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Outdoors, grow in free-draining, neutral to acid soil 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. Tolerates a light frost

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings or from seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Coastal
  • Gravel garden
  • Rock garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wall side borders
  • Banks and slopes

Pruning

Pruning group 1 or pruning group 8

Pests

Generally problem free

Diseases

Generally problem free