AusBonsai

Hi all,

This is a Green Cape Banksia. It grows only on the south coast of NSW on a barren promontory jutting out into the ocean near Eden. It is extremely windy, salt laden and on poor soil. It thrives in these conditions. It grows into a small tree about 2 to 3 meters tall and flowers profusely.

I have had it for about 12 years and when I got it ; it was basically a poor twin trunk upright tree. I chopped off the uprights and went with the more interesting fine branches. The rest is history,

Grant Bowie

Thanks for sharing Grant. I've never heard of that type of banksia. It looks like it takes to bonsai quite well. I'll keep my eye out for one at the nurseries

Nice.

Ooo, I do like that.
I notice that the foliage and flower size compliment the trunk; what overall size is the plant?

The tree measures 70cm from bottom of pot to tip of flower and 80cm wide.

The leaves are naturally smaller than species B Serrata but the flowers are about the same size.

From now on the work will be thinning out the new growth as it emerges while building up ramification.

Grant

I stayed at green cape light house and noticed the stunted gnarly Banksias growing in the area. Very nice tree Grant and good info /work with a rare species.
How did you come by the tree?
Cheers Tim


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It's still regular old Banksia serrata, just with a few locally selected genes. It's not a threatened species. Just think of it as a localised adoption. I've conducted genetic research on the plants there so know this for a fact! Most of the species on the Cape have localised adoptions and you can find dwarfed or prostrate versions of other widespread species there such as Acacia terminalis, Acacia suaveolens, Acacia longifolia, various Myrtaceae etc. A very good place for a bonsai grower to visit for inspiration but obviously all flora is protected due to it being in a National Park.

I purchased the tree from another bonsai person of impeccable credentials in regard to natives. I don’t know where he got it from.

I saw a shrub outside the building where the native show is being held. I will photograph it tomorrow.

Grant

This year the tree is putting out many flowers, possibly 20 to 30. This may necessitate reduction in the number of flowers or on the other hand it may reduce the vigorous and size of the flowers. Time will tell.

Hi Grant,

I was at Green Cape recently ,camping at saltwater creek. After seeing your tree at the show I took a photo of one of these Banksias on one of our visits to the light house.
It looks as though the area is still recovering from the fires.

Unfortunately I have not been able to post any photos on this site for some time an have found little help from the Administrators.

Kind Regards,

Peter

Mostly when photos are rejected; its because the file size is too large, you need to select for size from 3 or 4 options . I use around 1 gig or mg, whatever it is.

Hi Grant,

Thankyou for your reply and suggestions. I have been unloading attachments since I joined in 2008 with no issues . With this particular one and previous attempts in the last few months I have tried several file sizes which have all failed.

Its unfortunate and it maybe just a change in the process I have missed. My attempts to bring it to the admins attention have failed.

So my contributions (as little as they are) will be no more unless it is fixed.

Thanks for your time

Regards,

Peter

Hi Again,

If this works it maybe my main PC has issues

Thanks Peter. Interesting that half the tree survived...

Gavin

I wonder if there will be thousands of new seedlings after the fire over the next few years.

Yes, thanks Peter.

Grant