Banksia integrifolia or the Coastal Banksia has a characterful, gnarled single trunk and branches with obovate foliage that is dark green on top with white undersides.
The flowers are very attractive being erect, cylindrical and a delicate shade of lemony yellow.
Their natural habitat is coastal sand dunes, estuaries and open heath and woodlands of New South Wales, but it has proven to be quite adaptable to a wide variety of growing conditions.
They are popular garden plants, providing much character and are also popular plantings for streets and parks.
Fast growing and wind and salt tolerant, they go well in coastal conditions and other exposed sites. But they are very variable in size, growing to heights as low as 5m in exposed locations to 20m in sheltered spots.
Bird and bee attractors, they are also drought tolerant - all in all a very useful plant.