Pygmy Possum Banksia

Pygmy Possum Banksia (Banksia serrata 'Pygmy Possum') is a groundcover banksia that stays about 40cm high and spreads 2.5m to 3m wide. Its parent can reach 15m, but this form trails across the ground in a dense mat and carries large silvery yellow flower spikes in summer. It is a slow, characterful carpet for sunny, well drained gardens.

Why you'll love it

• A banksia at knee height. Dense trailing growth keeps it under 40cm, so you get the sculptural flowers without a tree to manage.
• Big summer flower spikes. Large silvery yellow blooms open in summer and draw honeyeaters into the garden.
• Built for the coast. It tolerates wind and salt spray, so seaside and poolside beds suit it.
• Tough once settled. Established plants cope with drought and light frost.
• Flexible placement. It carpets mixed borders and rockeries, and it also grows well in a large container.

Where it works best

Groundcover and carpet planting. Plant 1.5m apart and the mats meet within a few seasons. Mulch the gaps while they knit together.

Coastal and poolside gardens. It tolerates salt spray and wind, and its low habit suits the edges of pools and paths.

Rockeries and large pots. Trailing stems spill over rocks and the rim of a big container filled with a free draining, low phosphorus mix.

Growing Pygmy Possum Banksia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and an open, breezy spot give the best flowering. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens and tolerates light frost once established, so in colder regions choose the warmest sunny position you have.

Soil. Well drained soil, sandy if possible. On clay, plant on a mound 20cm to 30cm high and keep manure and rich compost out of the planting hole.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly for about 12 weeks until established, then ease off. Feed once in spring with a slow release native fertiliser with phosphorus under 3 per cent, because banksias are phosphorus sensitive.

Pruning. Very little is needed. After flowering, trim lightly to shape, cutting only where the stems carry leaves.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Pygmy Possum Banksia as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once planted. It starts small and grows slowly, so expect a quiet first season while the roots settle before the mat begins to spread. Plant it out soon after it arrives and water it in well.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the tube shows as sold out, the grower has none ready, and the notify button on this page emails you the day it is back.

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

• Browse the full banksia range
• More groundcover plants for sunny gardens
• Plants for coastal gardens
• The banksia care guide

Common questions

How wide will it spread?

Expect 2.5m to 3m wide and 30cm to 40cm high at maturity. It grows slowly, so reaching full width takes several years.

Does it need a special fertiliser?

Yes. Use a slow release native fertiliser with phosphorus under 3 per cent, once in spring. Standard garden fertilisers can damage banksias.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes. Choose a large container, use a free draining mix and let the stems trail over the rim.