Beachside Banksia 1

From coastal dunes to the mountains the Beach Banksia grows. Living on the east coast of Australia and observing the Banksia’s striking dark green leathery leaves with its silver reverse, is forever imprinted on my mind. The Coastal Banksia for me has always been reminiscent of the water’s edge, time spent swimming, and weekends enjoyed on the sand. Coming from ancient origins, they evolved from a group of flowering plants 100 million years ago. Their woody fruits are made up of several hundred flowers and the soft brush-like structures were once used as paintbrushes by indigenous people. At home by the beach, in our modern landscape, strong and resilient is the Beachside Banksia.