There are an estimated 170 species of Banksia in the world, all but one found in nature only in Australia. Banksia are found mostly along the coasts and non desert areas, with the most common, Coastal Banksia (Banksia integrifolia) found growing everywhere across mountains to the coast from Victoria to central Queensland.Banksias are trees or shrubs, although the largest can grow up to 20 m tall and occasionally 30m. Most are considerably shorter, and a few have their stems lying horizontally on the ground, like the Banksia Roller Coaster which will spread out to about 4, but only grow to 50cm tall.Banksia’s most distinctive feature is its unusual flowering spike. Not all the 170 species have a flowering spike, but the ones that do are some of the most striking and most spectacular displays anywhere. The spike is a woody column with hundreds of brightly coloured flowers attached to it. One spike of Bull Banksia (B. grandis) was estimated as having 6000 flowers. Sweet nectar abounds in each of these flowers. The simplest and most direct method is to simply suck the nectar through the spike in the same way that indigenous Australians have been doing for centuries. Another method is to cut the spike off the tree and immerse it in a vat of water. This, too, will work, and many people have been pleased with the results. You can strain the liquid afterwards to remove any stray material that may have drifted in with the wind. Toss in a bit of ice, and you have a wonderful treat that all your guests at your next BBQ will enjoy.Banksia is relatively easy to grow, just needing a sunny well drained position. Flowering averages from around 4 years old.If you are planning on ingesting Banksia, the usual caveats apply: 1) Do not eat or drink anything unless you are 100% certain you know what it is, and 2) Do not eat or drink anything that may possibly have been sprayed with pesticides.
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