# Sand Banksia (Banksia attenuata)

Australian native seed packet from Native Seed Co.

- Price: A$13.00 per 1 packet, AUD incl. GST
- Availability: in stock
- Shop page: https://www.nativeseedco.org/product/618
- SKU: NSC-618
- Packet contents: approx. 5 seeds

Hardy coastal banksia with distinctive golden flower spikes, perfect for sandy coastal conditions.

Banksia attenuata is one of the defining trees of south-west Western Australia, at home in the deep sands of the Swan Coastal Plain and the sandplains to its north and south. From spring into summer it holds tall, slender spikes of lemon-yellow flowers upright above the foliage like candles. The leaves are long, narrow and finely saw-toothed, and the woody cones that follow stay on the branches for years. On deep sand it grows into a gnarled small tree; in drier, poorer country it stays a lower, multi-stemmed shrub. Honeyeaters work the flowers for nectar, and black cockatoos feed on the seed.

## Growing specifications

- Origin: Sandy woodlands and sandplains of south-west Western Australia
- Form: small tree (long-lived perennial); height 4–10 m
- Sun: full sun
- Soil: sandy, gravel
- Drought tolerance: high
- Frost: light frost only
- Coastal / salt tolerant: yes
- Suited climates: mediterranean, temperate, semi-arid
- Flowering season: spring, summer
- Sowing season: autumn, winter
- Germination: 21–42 days
- Seed pre-treatment: none
- Attracts: honeyeaters, native bees, birds
- Garden uses: feature tree, bird garden, coastal garden, habitat planting
- Notes: A tree of deep, poor sand. Cover the seed lightly with coarse sand and never let it sit wet; shelter young plants from front-line salt spray.

## Highlights

- Upright, candle-like spikes of lemon-yellow flowers
- A defining tree of Western Australia's sandy banksia woodlands
- Nectar for honeyeaters and native bees; seed for black cockatoos
- Thrives in deep, poor sand once established

Also known as: Candle Banksia, Slender Banksia.

## How to sow

1. Sow seeds in autumn or winter for best results.
2. Use a well-draining sandy seed-raising mix.
3. Lightly cover seeds with coarse sand or fine gravel.
4. Keep moist but not waterlogged until germination (21-42 days).
5. Transplant seedlings when they have developed several true leaves.
6. Plant in a sunny position with excellent drainage.

## Care

- Water regularly during establishment but avoid overwatering.
- Mulch around the base with coarse organic matter.
- Avoid phosphorus-rich fertilizers - use low-phosphorus native plant fertilizer.
- Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape.
- Copes well in coastal gardens, but give it shelter from front-line salt spray.

Markdown version of https://www.nativeseedco.org/product/618. Catalogue index: https://www.nativeseedco.org/llms.txt