Banksias are named in honour of botanist Sir Joseph Banks and are popular Australian natives due to their impressive flower spikes consisting of hundreds of smaller flowers. The nectar laden flowers are perfect for attracting bees and birds into your garden plus they also make great cut flowers indoors where they’ll release their honey scent.

Banksias also produce very distinctive woody seed pods which you’ll instantly recognise as the big bad Banksia men if you’ve read the children’s book “Snugglepot & Cuddlepie” by May Gibbs.

There are more than 170 species of banksias with all but one being endemic to Australia and they range from ground covers to tall trees. Flowers are yellow, orange, pink and red and many have beautiful serrated leaves.

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