Saw Banksia

Banksia serrata

Also known as Old Man Banksia, Saw-tooth Banksia, Red Honeysuckle

At a glance

Family

Proteaceae

Type

Evergreen shrub or small tree

Parts used

Flower spikes (nectar); woody seed cones (craft, not edible)

Size

20 to 50 feet tall, often gnarled and wind-sculpted near the coast

Bloom

Creamy yellow-green brush-like spikes, late summer into autumn

Habitat

Coastal heath, sandstone woodland, and dunes of eastern Australia

Acquisition

Grow or buy

This plant in HerbSense

Key benefits

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Sweet natural nectar source

Vital food for native birds

Hardy, drought-tolerant garden tree

Striking, long-lasting seed pods

Traditional uses

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Along the sandstone coasts of New South Wales, Aboriginal communities gathered the nectar-heavy flower spikes of the saw banksia and dipped or swirled them in water to draw out a sweet, honey-like drink, a bush cordial enjoyed fresh and sometimes left to ferment lightly. The tough, woody seed cones that follow the flowers were put to practical use as scoops, fire fans, and rough combs once their seeds had fallen. Early colonists took to calling it red honeysuckle for that same nectar sweetness, and the tree's odd, watchful seed pods later found lasting fame as the whimsical, slightly menacing Banksia men of May Gibbs's Australian children's stories.

How to grow & use it

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Pairs well with

✦Grevillea
✦Bottlebrush (Callistemon)
✦Correa

Substitutes

✦Coast Banksia (Banksia integrifolia)
✦Heath-leaved Banksia (Banksia ericifolia)

Choose it when

“For a coastal garden humming with honeyeaters, and a taste of old bush sweetness.”

Did you know?

The gaping, whiskered seed cones of Banksia serrata, split open with rows of hollow eyes and grinning mouths, were the direct inspiration for the villainous 'Big Bad Banksia Men' in May Gibbs's classic Australian tale Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.

Safety

Banksia serrata is not documented as toxic, but it also has no established history as a medicinal herb; the nectar-water drink described here is a traditional bush-food practice, not a therapeutic remedy, and has not been studied for health effects. The woody seed cones and seeds are not food and should never be chewed or swallowed. Flowering banksias attract heavy bee and insect activity, so those with insect-sting allergies should take care when harvesting. As with any traditional plant preparation, and especially during pregnancy, nursing, or with any existing health condition, speak with a qualified healthcare professional before use.