{"product_id":"fern-leaved-banksia-banksia-oblongifolia","title":"Fern Leaved Banksia - Banksia oblongifolia","description":"\u003cp\u003eFern Leaved Banksia (\u003cem\u003eBanksia oblongifolia\u003c\/em\u003e) is a low, wide native shrub for gardens where a tall banksia would be too much. It grows 1m to 3m tall and 2.5m to 3m across, wears finely toothed leaves that open deep bronze, and carries pale yellow flower spikes in autumn and winter. Frost and salt spray do not trouble it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage that changes colour.\u003c\/strong\u003e New growth emerges deep bronze, often pink and felted, then matures to grey green with a finely toothed edge.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers when the garden quietens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Pale yellow spikes open in autumn and winter and feed nectar loving birds and other wildlife.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA friendly shape.\u003c\/strong\u003e Low and wide rather than tall, it sits in a border or a large pot without swamping its neighbours.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFrost and salt spray tolerant.\u003c\/strong\u003e It copes with cold gardens and coastal ones alike, which few flowering shrubs can claim.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRecovers after fire.\u003c\/strong\u003e It regenerates after fire, useful in gardens that back onto bush.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 2m apart for a continuous, mounding border that knits together within a few seasons. Stretch to 3m if each shrub is to stand alone as a specimen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLarge pots.\u003c\/strong\u003e It adapts well to containers. Use a free draining native potting mix in a sunny position.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal and cold gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt spray and frost both sit within its tolerance, so it suits exposed boundaries that defeat softer shrubs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e The autumn and winter flowers fill a gap for honeyeaters and other nectar feeders when fewer shrubs are in bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Fern Leaved Banksia in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun or partial shade. Its natural range runs along the east coast from Wide Bay to the Shoalhaven, so it is at home in humid subtropical gardens and handles the frosts of cooler districts too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e It wants a well drained, sandy to sandy loam soil that is not alkaline. In limy or heavy clay ground it struggles, so either mound the bed with sandy soil or grow it in a large pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water regularly through the first summer, then leave it to the weather. Feed once in spring with a slow release native fertiliser. Fern Leaved Banksia is very sensitive to phosphorus, so the phosphorus ratio on the label must be under 3 per cent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shape it lightly after flowering. Keep cuts within leafy growth, because banksias seldom reshoot from bare old wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sell Fern Leaved Banksia as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, in 140mm pots in packs of 10, in 200mm pots in packs of 6 and as single 300mm pots. Tube stock suits a long border on a budget, while the 200mm and 300mm plants already have the beginnings of their rounded shape. Expect bronze new growth within weeks in warm weather.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/banksia-care-guide\"\u003eHow to grow banksias and feed them safely\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/banksias\"\u003eSee the whole banksia collection\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/frost-hardy-plants\"\u003eMore frost hardy plants for cold gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/top-bird-attracting-native-plants-for-australian-gardens\"\u003eBird attracting natives for Australian gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy does the fertiliser label matter so much?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBanksias evolved on very poor soils and absorb phosphorus too readily. Ordinary fertiliser can poison them, so use only a native slow release product with phosphorus under 3 per cent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it grow in my clay soil?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot easily. It prefers sandy to sandy loam soil that is not alkaline. On clay, build a raised mound of sandy soil or plant it in a large pot of native mix.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I keep it in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It makes a good potted plant in full sun with free draining native mix. Water the pot more often than you would a garden planting and feed lightly in spring.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":67787181293887,"sku":"BAN-OBL-tube","price":13.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":67787181326655,"sku":"BAN-OBL-140MM-P10","price":199.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200mm (Pack of 6)","offer_id":67787181359423,"sku":"BAN-OBL-200MM-P6","price":291.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"300mm","offer_id":67787181392191,"sku":"BAN-OBL-300MM","price":165.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/fern-leaved-banksia-banksia-oblongifolia.jpg?v=1792150426","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/fern-leaved-banksia-banksia-oblongifolia","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}