Banksia sceptrum
Common name: Sceptrum Banksia
Family: PROTEACEAE
Origin of Scientific Name
Banksia – After Sir Joseph Banks (1743 - 1820) a famous English botanist and naturalist.
sceptrum – from the Latin sceptrum meaning a sceptre or crown, referring to the prominent large flowers.
Description
A densely foliaged, medium to large shrub, to around 5m tall and 4m wide, without lignotuber, regenerating from seed. The bark is smooth or slightly tessellated and grey. Leaves are oblong dull grey-green, 4-9cm long and 1-3cm wide, with blunt tips and small toothed margins. The inflorescence is showy, cylindrical and 7-21cm long and 8-10cm wide at flowering. Flowers yellow.
Distribution
A narrow distribution, near the central west coast between Hamelin Pool and Geraldton, along sand ridges of Kalbarri National Park and extending inland almost to Mullewa. Grows in deep yellow or pale red sand in tall shrubland, commonly on dunes. Refer to the distribution map for this species via the Department of Environment and Conservation's FloraBase online herbarium.
Flowering Season
November to January.
Cultivation/Propagation
This species is moderately fast growing and does very well in various, medium to deep sands of the coastal plain. Good drainage is required and preferably full sun. Pruning to healthy green leaves when young and picking flowers annually will maintain a floriferous and more compact plant if desired.
Best planted in a garden setting with other species that also require minimal summer watering once established. Use a fertiliser low in phosphate. Propagation is from seed and easily germinated.
Notes
This species is best used for planting on council verges or in large garden settings. It will continue to flourish and create a display right through the summer months, providing nectar rich flowers for birds. When it comes to pruning it is a matter of personal choice whether to remove old flowers or allow them to go to seed, as leaving them can add to the character of the display. This species can be planted with other large Banksias such as B. prionotes, B. speciosa, B. victoriae, B. menziesii, B. attenuata, B. grandis, and B. ashbyi.
View in Kings Park
This species can be viewed in Roe Garden, part of the Western Australian Botanic Garden, and in Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park.