Golden Girl Heath Banksia

Golden Girl Heath Banksia (Banksia ericifolia 'Golden Girl') is a dense, upright native shrub about 1.8m tall and wide, with fine blue grey heath like foliage and big golden flower spikes from late autumn to early spring. It makes a good coastal hedge, and its nectar feeds honeyeaters through the leanest months of the year.

Why you'll love it

• Gold flowers in winter. Fat, barrel shaped golden spikes open from late autumn to early spring, when most gardens are quiet.
• Fine blue grey foliage. Heathery leaves give a soft, silvery backdrop all year, on a plant that holds dense growth.
• Compact and well behaved. An upright habit at about 1.8m suits smaller gardens better than the larger banksias.
• Built for hard sites. Frost hardy, drought tolerant and suited to coastal conditions, it handles sites that defeat many shrubs.
• A feast for wildlife. Native birds and small mammals forage among the foliage for winter nectar and shelter.

Where it works best

Coastal hedging. Plant 1.2m apart in a single row. At that spacing the dense shrubs merge into a solid, informal hedge about 1.8m high, with room to avoid crowding at the base.

Feature planting. Set a group of three at the same spacing, or a single specimen where the winter flowers can be seen from a window.

Wildlife gardens. Pair it with grevilleas, correas and native grasses for nectar and cover in every season.

Smaller gardens. A mature width of 1.8m is manageable in a courtyard or a wide bed, as long as you allow it room.

Growing Golden Girl Heath Banksia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It is frost hardy and drought tolerant once established, and suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, including coastal sites.

Soil. Choose well drained soil that is neutral to acid in pH. Sweet, limey ground is a poor match for it.

Water and feed. Water regularly through the first summer, then let established plants cope with most seasons on their own. Feed with a slow release native fertiliser in spring with a phosphorus ratio under 3%, since heath banksia is phosphorus sensitive.

Pruning. Tip prune lightly after flowering to keep the shape dense, and avoid cutting into bare wood, which banksias are slow to reshoot from.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Golden Girl Heath Banksia as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once planted. Tube stock is the economical way to plant a hedge line, but the plants start small, so allow a few seasons for them to fill out and flower freely.

Plants travel upright and settle in well. Water them in on arrival and plant into free draining soil in a sunny position.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to choose and grow banksias
• Browse the full banksia range
• Planning a coastal feature garden
• Compare the best hedging plants

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

For a hedge, 1.2m apart. For a single specimen, give it at least 1.8m of clear width so it can develop its full rounded shape.

Does it need a special fertiliser?

Yes. Heath banksia is phosphorus sensitive, so use a slow release native fertiliser with a phosphorus ratio under 3%, applied once in spring.

Will birds really visit it?

Yes. The golden spikes carry nectar through winter, and honeyeaters and other native birds forage among the foliage for it and for shelter.