'Banksia': New Proteaceous Cut Flower Crop

'Banksia' species (Plate I) have been cultivated for the international cut flower market for only 20 to 30 years, but there is increasing interest in areas other than the native home, Australia, with production in Israel, South Africa, Hawaii, and California (Ben-Jaacov 1986; Sedgley 1996). Within Australia, 'Banksia' is one of the four most widely planted commercial native genera, but production is based on seedling material and between plant variability is high. 'Banksia' species for the fresh cut flower market must fulfill strict commercial criteria, which include terminal blooms and long stem length (Fig. 1.1), and further research is needed into all aspects of 'Banksia' biology and production. In addition to the fresh cut flower market, 'Banksia' stems are traded as dried and dyed blooms, and a wide range of species is used in environmental horticulture, for the attractive inflorescences and foliage, and to attract birds and other wildlife. Although there has been little work conducted so far on the use of banksias as pot plants, recent developments with related genera suggest that such an approach may be productive (Ben-Jaacov et al. 1989). 'Banksia' wood and cones are turned or incorporated into ornaments, and the timber of some species has been used for furniture.