Banksia Birdsong

Banksia Birdsong is a versatile shrub that produces an abundance of nectar-rich flowers from autumn through spring. It is excellent for attracting native birds and makes a hardy addition to coastal or native gardens.

The plant is a hybrid between two banksias, Banksia ericifolia and Banksia spinulosa. It grows into a compact, rounded shrub that usually reaches around two metres, and its fine, dark green leaves sit well in a mixed native border.

Give it full sun and free drainage, such as a raised bed or sandy loam, which suits the Mid North Coast well. Banksias dislike fertilisers high in phosphorus, so use a native plant food if you feed it at all. Tip pruning after flowering keeps the shape dense, and the flower spikes bring honeyeaters and other nectar feeders into the garden.