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Overview
A medium to dense native shrub growing into a rounded shape.
It has leaves are 200-300mm long with deeply serrated edges resembling razor-wire but not so sharp.
The large spikey orange flowers are borne in spring and are richly coloured and striking in appearance - another native that is an excellent cut flower.
Grows well in domestic gardens but this plant doesn't like a lot of humidity and needs its roots to be well drained.
Soil: Most types of soil from poor to rich but best in poorer, sandy soils.
Feed small quantities of blood and bone but avoid over fertilisation - especially phosphorus.
N.B. many general garden fertilisers contain phosphorus, so be careful.
Maintenance: Easily cultivated, responds well to pruning to keep tight format.
Prefers not to be over-watered, especially in summer.
Beware too much or too strong fertiliser - just a little blood and bone once a year is enough or a specially formulated native fertiliser These are have less than 3% phosphorous as natives do not respond well to it and it can kill them in higher doses. Native fertiliser also tends to have a higher than average amount of nitrogen.
Diseases: Borers can be a problem at times.
Other Species: 75 species in all.
Comments: All Banksias are named after Sir Joseph Banks - botanist on James Cook's vessels that colonised Australia in 1788.
N.B. we have researched extensively but cannot find any reference to Mr or Ms Ashby after whom this was undoubtedly named. If anyone knows, please tell us.
Author: Bob Saunders.