Banksia marginata aka Silver Banksia

Banksia marginata is a shrub or tree that stays green year-round. It comes from southeastern Australia and belongs to the Proteaceae family. Its names include silver banksia, honeysuckle tree, and Tasmanian honeysuckle. It grows in Tasmania and Victoria. Its range also covers eastern New South Wales and southeastern South Australia. It grows in sclerophyll forest, where trees have hard leaves. Sites range from the coast to the mountains.

Its size and shape vary a great deal. Garden plants reach about 5–8 feet [1.5–2.5 metres] tall and wide. Many form medium shrubs about 6.6 feet [2 metres] tall. Some stay low and spread. Others grow into large trees. The evidence gives no upper size for these tree forms. Plants take about five to ten years to reach full size. The narrow leaves feel like leather and have rolled edges. They have dark green tops and silver undersides.

Pale yellow flower heads rise above the leaves in summer. Each head is long and round, like a bottlebrush. Silver-brown fruits follow the flowers. They keep their cone-like shape for a long time. People can suck sweet nectar straight from the flowers. They can also wash it into water for a drink. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards or medicinal uses. This does not prove safety for every use or for pets.

Give this plant full sun and soil that drains well. Sand or loam suits it, with acid to neutral pH. Keep levels of phosphate and nitrate low. It copes with drought and salt winds, so suits coastal sites. The RHS says it needs frost-free sites and rates it H2. Plants For A Future gives the broader USDA range of zones 8–11. In colder areas, the RHS says to grow it under glass. Give it full light and good airflow there. Feed each month while it grows. Use half-strength feed with no phosphate.

Silver banksia suits courtyards, pots, and gardens with a Mediterranean climate. Its leaves and long-lasting fruit add interest once blooms fade. Pests cause few problems. Outdoor plants may get phytophthora root rot. Grow new plants from seed sown in spring. Or take semi-ripe cuttings in summer, when stems start to firm. The bark holds tannin. Growers have used the plant as rootstock for other banksias. Its soft, pinkish wood has a clear grain. Makers use it for furniture and veneer. But twisted growth limits the wood they can use.