Description Ashby's Banksia is a dense shrub with lobed saw-toothed leaves that grow to 20cm long and 3cm wide. The large orange flower spikes grow to 15cm long and 8cm wide and are bottlebrush shape. the flower spikes make ornamental cut flowers and the plant is cultivated for this purpose. The plant flowers in spring and flowers are followed by woody cones that are retained on the plant. There two subspecies: ashbyi ashbyi is a tree to 7m and has no lignotuber; and B. ashbyi boreoscaia which is a spreading shrub to 2m high with a lignotuber.
Habitat sandy soils on coastal heath and spinifex
Distribution coastal Western Australia from Geraldton to Exmouth
Growth Characteristics Height (m): 2 - 4 Spread (m): 2 - 4 Soil Texture: sand, loam Soil pH: soils with pH less than 8 Frost Sensitivity: moderately sensitive Minimum Rainfall (mm): 300 Flower Colour: orange Flower Season: winter, spring
