We will look for banksias in flower today which brighten up autumn in the Gardens.

1. On your right as you leave the VIC and reach the statue of Joseph Banks, for whom banksias are named, is Banksia spinulosa ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 174], a low shrub with needle-like foliage and yellow flower heads. ‘Birthday Candles’ is a dwarf cultivar of Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa developed by Bill Molyneux of Austraflora Nurseries in Montrose, Victoria.
2. Pass by the café and follow the Main Path up the hill to where Banksia ‘Giant Candles’ [Section 30] can be seen on the left along a gravel bow diversion off the Main Path to the left. B. ‘Giant Candles’ is a small tree with very long orange flower heads. It is much loved by birds, especially the New Holland Honeyeater. B. 'Giant Candles' is a registered cultivar which is a hybrid between the Gosford form of B. ericifolia and a form of B. spinulosa var. cunninghamii.
3. Rejoin the Main Path to see on your left Banksia ericifolia subsp. ericifolia [Section 30] or Heath-leaved Banksia, with finer foliage and smaller flower heads than B. ‘Giant Candles’.
4. On your right is Banksia heliantha [Section 9], which used to be known as Oak-leaved Dryandra before the reclassification of all dryandras as banksias. It has stiff spiky foliage and a magnificent green bud erupting from a rusty red base, which will become a flattened yellow flower head.
5. On your right is Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia (prostrate form) [Section 9], or Coast Banksia. While the species normally grows to be a large tree, the prostrate form makes a large mound of vigorous foliage with dark green leaves with silver backs and plenty of short greenish-yellow flower heads.
6. On your left is Banksia spinulosa var. neoanglica [Section 25] which is a compact medium-sized bush with grey-green foliage and bright yellow flower heads.
7. Banksia paludosa [Section 27] is a small, upright tree on your right with upward-facing foliage and long greenish flower heads.
8. Look down on your left to see Banksia blechnifolia [Section 25], a groundcover with fishbone foliage and deep reddish-brown flower heads emerging at the base.
9. On your left is a small tree with a mixture of greenish new flower heads and brown mature cones. This is Banksia oblongifolia [Section 25].
10. Banksia marginata ‘Cape Patterson Dwarf’ [Section 26] on the right is an unusual small version of our common local Banksia marginata. It has short lime-green flower heads on dark green silver-backed foliage.
11. On your right is a small tree covered in short green flower heads with grey ends to the flowers and a velvety brown nose protruding from the top. This lovely tree is Banksia conferta subsp. pencillata [Section 26] or Newnes Plateau Banksia.
12. On your left is Banksia ericifolia ‘Red Clusters’ [Section 26], a shrub or small tree with yellow flower heads aging to rusty red.
13. Turn left up the road to see on your right Banksia spinulosa var. cunninghamii [Section 191e] or Hairpin Banksia, which is a small tree with yellow flower heads and prominent black styles.
14. Further on your right behind the log seat is the Wallum Banksia or Banksia aemula [Section 191l] with upright toothed foliage and a mixture of immature and mature flower heads.
15. Turn left through the Eucalypt Lawn and follow the Main Path to the Rock Garden. When you reach it, leave the Main Path and turn right through the Rock Garden to the steps. Here on your left is Banksia spinulosa ‘Honey Pots’ [Section 15d], a medium-sized bush with yellow flower heads.

Rosalind Walcott