Lantern Banksia

~ Banksia ericifolia ~

PROTEACEAE

The Lantern Banksia plays host to a wide variety of pollinating parties with the most adorable marsupial visitor being the Yellow-footed Antechinus (Antechinus flavipes) who has so much sex in its first year of life that it subsequently dies (RIP, mate). The Pale Field Rat (Rattus tunneyi), whose promiscuity is fairly undocumented, is also a keen visitor along with the Grassland Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys burtoni). Rodents get a bad rap from the havoc caused by introduced rodent species. However, these native mammals have been seen leaving the lantern flowers late at night smuggling loads of pollen, making them an important species for the Banksia. In turn the flowers provide pollen and nectar for the mammals during the cooler months when food is scarce.

WHERE TO LOOK

The Lantern Banksia can be found from the Sydney basin to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast as well as the mountainous sandstone soils of the Blue Mountains and the Budawangs. They’ll be in the company of local Hakeas, Banksias, Tea Trees and She-oaks.

Locations → Queensland: Noosa National Park; NSW: Kings Tableland Walk in Blue Mountains National Park, Royal National Park, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden in St Ives, Jennifer Street Boardwalk in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Wentworth Falls and Bouddi National Park.

FEATURES

The Lantern Banksia features rosemary-like leaves along long woody stems. Its cylindrical flower is an inflorescence, which is made up of a few hundred tiny tubular flowers densely packed along a spike. These inflorescences are coloured golden-red, measure 7–20cm tall and up to 6cm wide, and sit upon thick, woody upright stems. Once pollinated, the flower falls away to reveal brown-grey seed follicles. Unlike some Banksias that hold a lignotuber underground to resprout from after fire, the Lantern does not contain a lignotuber but is known as a seeder, which means the parent plant can be killed with fire but will regenerate from seed.

FLOWERING SEASON

Autumn and winter → Its red candlestick flowers can be seen around April through to August.

TRADITIONAL USES

Many Banksias have been utilised by First Nations People as a form of ‘honey’ – the nectar is either sucked from ripe flowers or the flowers are soaked to make a sweet drink.

PLANTING

A low-maintenance, fast-growing plant with big candelabra vibes, the Lantern Banksia takes seven to eight years to produce its huge flowers. It benefits from a good pruning and enjoys sandy soils but will still grow in most soil types. Plants and seeds are easily found in specialty nurseries; a compact version called Little Eric (adorable) is widely available. Seeds don’t require any special pre-treatment.