Banksia menziesii
Synonyms: firewood banksia, port wine banksia, strawberry banksia
is a species of flowering plant in the genus Banksia.
It is a gnarled tree up to 10 m (35 ft) tall, or a lower spreading 1–3 m (4–10 ft) shrub in the more northern parts of its range.
The serrated leaves are dull green with new growth a paler grey green.
The prominent autumn and winter inflorescences are often two-colored red or pink and yellow.
Yellow blooms are rarely seen.
First described by the botanist Robert Brown in the early 19th century, no separate varieties of Banksia menziesii are recognized.
| Banksia menziesii |
It is found in Western Australia, from the Perth region north to the Murchison River and generally grows on sandy soils in scrubland or low woodland.
Banksia menziesii provides food for a wide array of invertebrate and vertebrate animals; birds and in particular honeyeaters are prominent visitors.
A relatively hardy plant, Banksia menziesii is commonly seen in gardens, nature strips and parks in Australian urban areas with Mediterranean climates, but its sensitivity to dieback from the soil-borne water mold Phytophthora cinnamomi makes it short-lived in places with humid summers, such as Sydney.
Banksia menziesii is widely used in the cut flower industry.
