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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Proteaceae (Proteas) |
| Origin: Australia (Australasia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Orange & Pink |
| Bloomtime: Fall/Spring |
| Height: 4-6 feet |
| Width: 6-8 feet |
| Seaside: Yes |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Banksia mensiezii 'Dwarf' (Flame Banksia) - A showy evergreen shrub to 5 to 6 feet tall by 6 to 8 feet wide with thick woolly branches and serrated dark green leaves that are grayish new growth and remain so on the underside of the leaf. In late summer into winter appear the large showy 6 inch tall fat cones of two toned reddish-pink and orange flowers. Plant in the open location in full sun in a well-drained soil and irrigated infrequently. It is drought tolerant and cod hardy to around 26 °F and tolerates near coastal conditions with some protection. Tip prune after flowering to shape and maintain compact growth. This is a great plant for a hillside planting, a low screen or for large containers. It is attractive to birds and flowers are great in floral arrangements. This plant is only called the dwarf form as the species, Banksia menziesii, can grow to be a large shrub or tree to 20 to 30 feet tall. It is considered to be one of the iconic Western Australian banksias and is found growing from near Perth north to the Murchison River where it is generally found on sandy soils in low woodlands. The name for the genus is one given by Carolus Linnaeus to honor the English botanist Sir Joseph Banks, who was on Captain James Cook's first expedition to Australia and collected the first Banksia specimens in 1770. The specific epithet honors Archibald Menzies, who was the surgeon and naturalist on the HMS Discovery under Captain George Vancouver on the over four year voyage that circumnavigated the globe and made contact with five continents. It is commonly known in Australian as Firewood Banksia because of its quick-burning properties, but is also known as Menzies Banksia or as Firewheel Banksia, Port Wine Banksia, Flame Banksia, Raspberry Frost or Strawberry Banksia for its attractive flowers. Our plants came to us from Obra Verde Nursery.
This information about Banksia menziesii 'Dwarf' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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