Banksia menziesii, also known as Strawberry Banksia or firewood banksia, is a flowering plant of the genus Banksia. This Western Australia native contains over 75 species[1], all but one occurring naturally in Australia.
Strawberry Banksia is a relatively hardy plant commonly seen in parks, natural strips, and gardens in urban areas with a Mediterranean climate. The distinctive fall and winter inflorescences are often yellow, red, or pink. Their color has given rise to familiar names such as strawberry banksia and port wine banksia.
Strawberry Banksia grows as a gnarled tree up to 33 ft (10 m) or as a lower shrub that spans 1 to 3 meters (3.3 to 9.8 ft). The leaves are elongated and slightly truncated at the ends.
The leaves are grayish-green, 3.1 to 9.8 in (8 to 25 cm) long, and about 1.6 in (4 cm) wide. The flowering period occurs in winter and autumn and peaks from May to July. Oval to a cylindrical shape, flower spikes can grow up to 2.8-3.1 inches (7-8 cm) wide and 1.6-4.7 inches (4-12 cm) tall.
Strawberry Banksia has more flower color variants than any other Banksia species, with flower spikes in pink, green, white, yellow, bronze, and chocolate shades. They are particularly noticeable in close-ups but can appear inconspicuous from a distance.
