Australian Native Plants

  Banksia serrata (Old Man Banksia)


Banksia serrata photo
Banksia serrata flowers at various stages of development

Photograph copyright: oznativeplants - all rights reserved.

Banksia serrata photo
close up of Banksia Serrata flower spike

Photograph copyright: oznativeplants - all rights reserved.

Banksia serrata photo
large Banksia serrata trees

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Banksia serrata photo
Banksia serrata flowers and foliage

Photograph copyright: oznativeplants - all rights reserved.

Banksia serrata photo
Banksia serrata flower spike opening

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Banksia serrata photo
mature Banksia serrata flower spike

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Growth Characteristics information is sourced from: State Flora Catalog, Government of South Australia Licensed under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license.



OLD MAN BANKSIA FACTS

distribution map showing range of Banksia serrata in Australia

Map is from The Atlas of Living Australia web site, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License


Common Name
Old Man Banksia

Other Names
Saw-tooth Banksia, Red Honeysuckle

Description
Banksia serrata is usually a gnarled tree with a single trunk. In some coastal areas it is a shrub to 3m, and there is also a prostrate form. The bark is rough and cork-like and can withstand fire. The leaves a dark glossy green above and light green below, eight to 20 cm long, and 2 cm to 4 cm wide. The leaf margins are serrated with lobes between 1mm and 3 mm deep. The flower spikes are a silvery grey colour, with cream or golden styles. Cones have up to 30 follicles, and retain old withered flower parts. This tree has a lignotuber - an underground structure that stores energy that the plant can use to regenerate after bushfire.

Habitat
well-drained sandy soil. Often found near the coast behind the main dune system.

Distribution
Banksia serrata is found on the mainland from Wilsons Promontory in Victoria to Maryborough in Queensland. Also found in Tasmania

Growth Characteristics
Height (m): 2 - 10
Spread (m): 2 - 7
Soil Texture: sand, loam
Soil pH: acid soils, neutral soils
Frost Sensitivity: moderately sensitive
Minimum Rainfall (mm): 500
Flower Colour: yellow
Flower Season: spring

(source: SA State Flora Catalog)

Wildlife Interest
attracts honeyeaters



Classification
Class:Magnoliopsida
Order:Proteales
Family:Proteaceae
Genus:Banksia
Species:serrata
Common Name:Old Man Banksia


Relatives in same Genus
  Banksia aculeata
  Banksia aemula
  Banksia anatona
  Banksia ashbyi
  Banksia attenuata
  Banksia audax
  Banksia baueri
  Banksia baxteri
  Banksia benthamiana
  Banksia blechnifolia
  Banksia brownii
  Banksia burdettii
  Banksia caleyi
  Banksia candolleana
  Banksia canei
  Banksia carlinoides
  Banksia chamaephyton
  Banksia coccinea
  Banksia conferta ssp conferta
  Banksia conferta ssp penicillata
  Banksia cuneata
  see A-Z list for more ...