Banksia marginata - Silver Banksia - 5 seeds

Silver Banksia is a shrub or small tree type Banksia growing in the wild to a maximum of 10m.  The leaves are an attractive mid-green, whitish below and longer and thinner than many Banksia and are bordered, giving rise to its latin name - Banksia marginata. 
 
The flowers appear late Summer to Autumn and are pale yellow turning to gold with age and maturity, they are long and cylindrical and make an excellent long-lived cut flower.  New growth is an attractive pale brown or pink brown and the attractive foliage has a silvery hue giving it its common name.

The natural habitat of this Banksia is in southern and eastern Australia, stretching from the Eyre Peninsula to central New South Wales on the mainland and including all of Tasmania, the Bass Strait islands and Kangaroo Island.  This is one of the widest ranging Banksia of all, with its territory taking in a wide range of climatic and soil variations.  
Soil types range through sandy loam, clay loam, shale and rocky soil. It is found in areas of shrubland, woodland and forest and at times in swamps and on coastal dunes.  Altogether this species will tolerate a wider range climate of soil type than most Banksia, including somewhat heavy soil.  It is not affected by frost or salt winds and it is tolerant of moisture around the roots.  They are fast growing and are best planted in full sun as shade tends often to promote straggliness.

Propagation is easy from seed which should be sown into a standard seed raising mix and watered as required. The best times to propagate Banksia from seed are either Spring or Autumn, with Autumn being the favoured time, both in cultivation and in the wild.

As with most Banksias this species can be raised in pots for the first year and can be maintained permanently in large tubs if desired although in planting out seedlings avoid too much root disturbance.  Plant into well drained soil with an acidic pH of around 6.0 to 7.0.

5 premium quality seeds shipped on receipt of cleared funds.