Crushing on Banksia Ashbyii

Looking to add a bold, textural twist to your floral designs? Say hello to Banksia ashbyii! With its blazing orange flower spikes and rugged, sculptural leaves, this Australian native is your secret weapon for unforgettable arrangements.

🔥 Why We’re Crushing on Ashbyii:  

🔸 That burnt-orange color? Instant warmth.
🔸 Those spiky, cone-like blooms? Hello, texture.
🔸 Silvery foliage? A dusty, desert-chic dream.
🔸 Bonus: it dries beautifully, so your designs last long after the fresh phase.

🌿 Design Tips: 

• Pair it with soft natives like eucalyptus, leucospermum, or leucadendron for an earthy boho vibe. 
• Want more contrast? Tuck in some soft fennel or grevillea flowers for a wild-meets-refined touch. 
• Feeling bold? Mingle a few ashbyii with a king and pink duke, pincushions, conebush, blue lepto and some sea holly for a bright avant-garde aura.

Ashbyii photographs like a dream. Perfect for weddings, events, or that one stunning centerpiece.

So next time you're building a bouquet or styling a display, throw in an ashbyii or two… it’s like an Australian road trip in flower form.

The Banksia

Strong, resilient and bold, Banksias are far from delicate flowers, yet when they bloom, their effervescence and textures are unrivaled. As with the Leucospermum, the inflorescence of these robust plants consists entirely of the choreography of flower paths, they have no bracts or colored leaves. Most of these blooms look like corn cobs… tall, cylindrical and hard to the core.

Banksia are truly one of the best known and spectacular genera in the Australian plant family Proteaceae with nearly 175 species. These Australian wildflowers grow naturally in and around most of Australia’s coastal regions. Some varieties have growth habits similar to ground cover, others like shrubs and some trees. Colors range from silvery green through brilliant gold, yellows and orange to violet, deep red and even black tones. Banksia foliage varies greatly from small and piney to long and narrow to large, leathery and with deep serrated teeth.

Praemorsa – Cut Leaf Banksia

Ashbyii – Ashby’s Banksia

Ericifolia – Heath-Leaved Banksia

Banksia speciosa – rickrack banksia or Mint Julep

In the Field: Banksia Ashbyii

We're feeling inspired this summer with a fresh take on a favorite orange Banksia: Ashbyii or also called Ashby’s Banksia. What appears to be one large, showy cylindrical flower is actually a dense cluster of up to several thousand individual blossoms. Ashbyii’s beautiful orange flowers add vibrancy and texture in the field or garden and is a treat in floral arrangements, bouquets and wreaths.

Speaking of treats, banksia nectar once provided a sweet treat for Aboriginal people, who sucked the flower spike or soaked it in water to make a drink.

After flowering, the spike develops into a woody cone with tightly closed follicles, each containing one or two seeds. The cone or pod performs the all-important task of protecting the seeds until the time is right for germination – which, for most banksias, is after a BBQ or bushfire.

Flower Care:

1. Keep cool when possible. 
2. Strip leaves from the bottom half of each stem. 
3. Re-cut at least 1/2" off each stem and place in cold water. 
4. Never bash or split stems. 
5. Replace vase water every day as Banksia are thirsty flowers. 
6.  Never mist banksias as this could cause black marks to appear.

New on the Farm: Protea Seeds

Just in time for the spring gardening season, a collection of protea seeds are now available. Ideal for plant enthusiasts and gardeners, these protea, telopea, banksia and leucospermum seeds are prefect for those of you who have been wondering if protea will grow in your gardens. Read on to learn how to cultivate some of our favorites.

Proteas like full sun, ample wind circulation, and acidic, free-draining soil. It is best to stay out of areas where temperatures are known to remain below 28 degrees for an extended period of time.

How to Plant:

1.  Soak the seeds in water for 24 hours. 
2. Then sow in a tray of well-drained soil, decomposed granite is ideal. Adding perlite and sand to the seed compost improves drainage. 
3. Once sown, cover the seeds with about 1/4” of sand. 
4. Germination takes 3-4 weeks at around 60-70°F, and up to several months in cooler conditions. Let the germination temperature drop naturally at night. 
5. Transplant young seedlings into a container with well-drained compost being careful to avoid root disturbance. 
6. Seedlings should remain in their container for a year before planting in the garden.

Our selection includes:

Click here to order – Happy Gardening!