Old man banksia (saw banksia) Banksia serrata
Old man banksia (saw banksia) (Banksia serrata) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Proteaceae family, native to Coastal sands and sandstone of eastern Australia, from Queensland to Tasmania. It grows 5–12 m (16–39 ft) tall and 4–7 m (13–23 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -3 °C (27 °F). Space plants about 5 m (16 ft) apart.
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Old man banksia (saw banksia) at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Proteaceae |
| Mature height | 5–12 m (16–39 ft) |
| Mature spread | 4–7 m (13–23 ft) |
| Spacing | 5 m (16 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 4.5–6.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -3 °C (27 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | about 261–417 weeks after planting, for 6–10 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Coastal sands and sandstone of eastern Australia, from Queensland to Tasmania |
| Common in gardens of | 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇺🇸 United States |
Is Old man banksia (saw banksia) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not poisonous.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Old man banksia (saw banksia)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Questions about Old man banksia (saw banksia)
- How far apart should I plant Old man banksia (saw banksia)?
- About 5 m (16 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 4–7 m (13–23 ft).
- Does Old man banksia (saw banksia) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Old man banksia (saw banksia) need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Old man banksia (saw banksia)?
- It tolerates about -3 °C (27 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Old man banksia (saw banksia) flower?
- About 261–417 weeks after planting, for 6–10 weeks.
- Is Old man banksia (saw banksia) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not poisonous.
- What grows well with Old man banksia (saw banksia)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Old man banksia (saw banksia). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- PlantNET: the NSW Flora Online, National Herbarium of New South Wales, Botanic Gardens of Sydney
- Australian native plant profiles, Australian National Botanic Gardens / Australian Plants Society
Notes and assumptions
- An Australian native of poor, sandy soils: it wants sharp drainage and sun, and rots in heavy, wet ground or humid summers.
- Like other Proteaceae it has cluster roots that make it very sensitive to phosphorus: feed only with a low-phosphorus native-plant fertiliser, or not at all.
- A gnarled small tree with thick, warty bark, saw-toothed leaves and silver-grey to cream flower spikes in summer, followed by knobbly old cones with gaping seed valves: May Gibbs’ “big bad Banksia men” in the Snugglepot and Cuddlepie stories. It resprouts from its trunk after fire.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Macadamia Macadamia integrifolia
- King protea Protea cynaroides
- Pincushion protea Leucospermum cordifolium
- Rosemary grevillea Grevillea rosmarinifolia
- Coast banksia Banksia integrifolia
- Waratah Telopea speciosissima
- Silver tree (witteboom) Leucadendron argenteum
- Oleander-leaf protea Protea neriifolia