1 minute read
Parrot Bush
~ Banksia sessilis ~
PROTEACEAE
Advertisement
Another star in the collaborative community of life, the Parrot Bush is known to be a main food source for the many honeyeaters in the infamous floral hot-spots of Noongar Country. It’s also visited (unsurprisingly) by a Parrot. The Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), illustrated here, cracks open the tough follicles of the Banksia fruit and feasts on the seeds in the dining company of Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos (Zanda latirostris). The Parrot Bush is a prolific flowerer, is easily germinated and brings in a host of native visitors, making it a pretty special garden companion (but watch out for the spiky leaves).
WHERE TO LOOK
The Parrot Bush is a Noongar Country resident and is found within the botanical province of the southwest corner of Western Australia. It’s widespread from Kalbarri all down the coast and can even be found stretching inland to the semi-arid climate of Kulin. A large community can be seen from Moses Rock North and the Moses Rock campground along the Cape to Cape Track.
Locations → WA: Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Avon Valley National Park, John Forrest National Park, Stirling Range National Park and Nambung National Park.
FEATURES
Banksia sessilis can grow as a shrub or small tree up to 6m. The 2–6cm spiky, holly-like leaves are mostly without stalks – this is what the ‘sessilis’ in its name refers to. Its 5cm domed inflorescences are creamy yellow and feature around 55 to 125 individual flowers. If pollinated, fruit will form with four follicles from the base of the flower head.
FLOWERING SEASON
Winter to summer → This long-flowering Banksia can be seen in bloom from May through to November.
TRADITIONAL USES
The Noongar People have used Parrot Bush flowers for their honey and the wood of the tree to create message sticks. The bush has been used as a form of broom and the branches used to drive fish into traps. See the free resource Plants and People in Mooro Country: Noongar Plant Use in Yellagonga Regional Park for more.
PLANTING
Seeds are available online and in specialty nurseries and need no particular pre-treatment. Plant out in full sun and well-draining soil as they are prone to root rot caused by Phytophthora disease. Sow seeds in spring or autumn.
