Mass Orgy

This long cone like structure is the flower spike of a Banksia spinulosa var. collina. There are thousands upon thousands of flowers on this one spike and the bush is covered with about 50 spikes. This plant has been in my garden about 10 years now and it never stops flowering. It peaks in autumn and is still going strong late winter. Never water it, never feed it, all I do is prune it when it gets too wild and that is usually after peak flowering. Its planted in a raised bed on clay base soil, the only problem it seems to get is an abundance of bees in a frenzy around it when peak flowering. You cannot disturb the bees passion otherwise they get upset with you.

These plants are related to the Proteas of South Africa and most of these plants have similar growing conditions. In particular to all Proteaceae plants is they are light feeders and definitely no phosphorus. So don't go throwing grass clippings around these plants.

Doug.