Saw-leafed Banksia

Saw-leafed Banksia (Banksia serrata) is a big, rugged coastal native with serrated leaves and pale green cream flower spikes. It can reach 15m high and 4m wide, but it grows slowly, and in exposed seaside gardens it often stays a shrub. Flowers appear from summer to winter and peak in autumn, when birds need them most.

Why you'll love it

• Bold leaves. Large, zigzag edged leaves give strong texture all year, long before the first flower.
• Autumn nectar. Pale green cream spikes open from summer to winter, peaking in autumn, and draw honeyeaters.
• Handles the coast. It tolerates wind and salt spray, so it works as a seaside windbreak or street planting.
• Adaptable across climates. It grows naturally along the coast from southern Queensland to Tasmania.
• Drought tolerant once established. It needs little water beyond the first season.

Where it works best

Coastal gardens and windbreaks. Plant 3m apart for a windbreak. On exposed sites it stays shrubby, so the planting reads as a solid, rugged mass.

Large gardens and streetscapes. Where soil is deeper and more sheltered it grows into a tree, so keep it at least 4m from buildings, paving and pipes.

Wildlife plantings. Nectar rich spikes in the cooler months feed honeyeaters and other birds, and the cones carry on after the flowers.

Growing Saw-leafed Banksia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. Because it grows naturally from southern Queensland to Tasmania, it adapts to subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, although final size varies: smaller on exposed coast, taller in shelter.

Soil. Well drained sandy soil. 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 leave it to the weather. Feed once in spring with a slow release native fertiliser with phosphorus under 3 per cent.

Pruning. Prune lightly after flowering to shape, cutting only where the stems still carry leaves.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Saw-leafed Banksia as tube stock (a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly), 140mm pots in packs of 10, 200mm pots in packs of 6 and 300mm pots. Tubes are the economical choice for a windbreak and often overtake larger pots within two seasons, while the 200mm and 300mm pots give you a bigger plant to start with. Plants travel upright and settle quickly, with steady growth through the warmer months.

Our grower raises the tube stock and does not always have plants ready. If the tube reads sold out, use the notify button on this page and we will email you the day it is available again.

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
• Plants for windbreaks
• Plants for coastal gardens
• The complete banksia care guide

Common questions

How big will it get?

Up to 15m high and 4m wide, slowly. Mature size varies with location, and plants on exposed coastal sites usually stay shrub sized.

Is it suitable for a small garden?

Not as a rule. Even slow growth ends large, so choose a compact banksia where space is tight.

When does it flower?

From summer to winter, with the heaviest display in autumn.