# Heath-Leaved Banksia (Banksia ericifolia)

Australian native seed packet from Native Seed Co.

- Price: A$12.50 per 1 packet, AUD incl. GST
- Availability: in stock
- Shop page: https://www.nativeseedco.org/product/528
- SKU: NSC-528
- Packet contents: approx. 6 seeds

Heath-Leaved Banksia is a tall, bushy shrub with fine, needle-like leaves and long orange to red flower spikes that glow through autumn and winter. Dense and vibrant, it attracts honeyeaters and adds warmth and texture to garden backdrops and bush plantings.

The Heath-Leaved Banksia (Banksia ericifolia) is a robust and reliable Australian native that brings year-round interest to the garden. This tall shrub is characterized by its fine, needle-like leaves that resemble heath plants, giving it its common name. The spectacular flower spikes appear from autumn through winter, ranging in color from bright orange to deep red.

## Growing specifications

- Origin: Coastal New South Wales
- Form: large shrub (long-lived perennial); height 3–6 m
- Sun: full sun or part shade
- Soil: sandy, loam
- Drought tolerance: moderate
- Frost: light frost only
- Coastal / salt tolerant: yes
- Suited climates: temperate, subtropical, cool temperate
- Flowering season: autumn, winter
- Sowing season: spring, autumn
- Germination: 21–45 days
- Seed pre-treatment: none
- Attracts: honeyeaters, birds
- Garden uses: screen, hedge, bird garden, winter colour
- Notes: The most reliable banksia for east-coast gardens, including humid areas. Flowers when little else does.

## Highlights

- Long orange to red flower spikes in autumn and winter
- Attracts honeyeaters and native birds
- Dense, bushy growth habit perfect for screening
- Fine needle-like foliage adds texture year-round

## How to sow

1. Soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours before sowing.
2. Use well-draining soil mix with some sand content.
3. Sow seeds in spring or autumn when temperatures are moderate.
4. Cover lightly with soil and maintain consistent moisture.
5. Germination typically occurs within 4-8 weeks.
6. Transplant seedlings when they reach 10-15cm in height.

## Care

- Water regularly during establishment, then reduce frequency.
- Apply low-phosphorus native plant fertilizer in spring if needed.
- Prune lightly after flowering to maintain dense growth.
- Mulch around the base to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
- Very hardy once established - tolerates drought and coastal conditions.

Markdown version of https://www.nativeseedco.org/product/528. Catalogue index: https://www.nativeseedco.org/llms.txt