Herb: Silver Banksia


Latin name: Banksia marginata


Family: Proteaceae



Edible parts of Silver Banksia:

The flowers are filled with a sweet nectar which can be sucked directly or washed out with water to make a refreshing beverage.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Tree


Height:
9 m
(30 feet)

Flowering:
August to
December

Habitat of the herb:

Usually found in sclerophyll forest from the coast to mountainous areas.

Other uses of Silver Banksia:

The bark contains 10% tannin. This species has been used as a rootstock for propagating other members of the genus. Wood - soft, easily worked, pinkish with a prominent grain. It is highly decorative but the plants tend to be gnarled and irregular thus limiting its use. Used for veneers, furniture etc.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - surface sow in an ericaceous compost as soon as the seed is ripe or as soon as it is obtained and do not exclude light. Seal the pot in a plastic bag until germination takes place, which can take 1 - 3 months or more at 20°C. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in sand in a frame.

Cultivation of Silver Banksia:

Usually found in sclerophyll forest from the coast to mountainous areas.

Medicinal use of the herb:

None known

Known hazards of Banksia marginata:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.