Coast banksia
Banksia integrifolia · also called Coastal banksia
The coast banksia is a hardy native tree of Australia's east coast, including Brisbane's bayside suburbs and sandy country. From autumn into winter it carries pale yellow flower spikes that draw honeyeaters and other birds. It handles salt spray and wind, which makes it a good choice for coastal gardens, and Brisbane City Council uses it as a street tree that grows 4 to 12 metres tall.
- Native to South East Queensland
- 4 to 12 m tall
- Flowers March to August
Coast banksia at a glance
- Height
- 4 to 12 m (up to 25 m in the wild)
- Spread
- 4 to 10 m
- Growth
- Fast
- Leaves
- Evergreen
- Flowers
- Yellow, March to August
- Roots
- Moderate
- Origin
- East coast and nearby ranges, from Proserpine (Qld) to Port Phillip Bay (Vic)
- Power lines
- Not on the council's list for under power lines
- Family
- Proteaceae
How to identify a coast banksia
Coast banksia leaves grow in whorls of three to five around the stem. They are narrow, 4 to 20 cm long, dull to dark green above and white and felty underneath, and their edges are usually smooth, which sets the species apart from most other banksias and gives it the name integrifolia. Pale yellow flower spikes 5 to 12 cm long appear mainly from autumn into winter. The old spikes become woody cones studded with small seed capsules, and spent cones often lie under the tree. The bark is grey and roughly chequered or fissured.
Growing a coast banksia in Brisbane
Coast banksia grows naturally along the coast and nearby ranges, and herbarium collections include trees on Bribie Island, at Deception Bay and in The Gap. Brisbane City Council plants it as a street tree in its coastal precinct and on arterial roads, on narrow to medium verges but not under power lines. It does best in full sun and free-draining sandy soil, and it is very tolerant of salt spray and wind. Good drainage matters, because it is prone to root-rot fungi such as Phytophthora.
What to watch out for
Coast banksia isn't on Brisbane City Council's weed list and has few drawbacks. It is prone to root-rot fungi such as Phytophthora in poorly drained soil, and South Australia's plant selector advises keeping it at least 2 metres from sewer mains. Old seed cones collect under the tree. In sheltered forest it can grow far taller than its usual street size, up to about 25 metres.
Pruning and care
Plant coast banksia in a sunny spot with good drainage, keep mulch thin and keep grass back from the trunk. Avoid high-phosphorus fertilisers, as banksias are sensitive to them. Prune lightly after flowering, or simply cut flowers for the vase. Light trims help bush up leggy young plants, but heavy pruning reduces flowering, and hard cuts into old wood can cause lasting damage. It is very hardy once established. Large trees near roofs or wires are best handled by an arborist.
How tall does a coast banksia grow?
When does coast banksia flower in Brisbane?
Does coast banksia attract birds?
Can you prune a coast banksia?
.jpg){kind=link}
Sources and credits
- Street tree species (open data) Brisbane City Council
- Banksia integrifolia Flora of Australia (ABRS), Atlas of Living Australia
- Banksia integrifolia, New South Wales Flora Online PlantNET, Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust
- Banksia integrifolia, Coast Banksia Australian Plants Society NSW
- Banksia integrifolia, Coast Banksia (Plant Selector) Botanic Gardens of South Australia
- Banksia integrifolia herbarium records within 50 km of Brisbane Atlas of Living Australia
Photo: John Robert McPherson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Second photo: Ixitixel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Checked October 2026. Weed listings and council rules change: check the council's and the Queensland Government's pages before you act.
Get a free quote. We'll beat most written quotes.
Tell us about the job and the site. You don't need to be home for the quote. Available 7 days.
- 4.9 on Google (38 reviews)
- Family owned & operating since 1993
- Fully insured
- We'll beat most written quotes