Grevillea banksii

R. Br.

Red Silky Oak, Dwarf Silky Oak, Bank's Grevillea

Proteaceae Edible: Nectar Potential hazards — see below 1,965 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-sa

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Grevillea banksii, commonly known as Banks' grevillea, Byfield waratah, red flowered silky oak and dwarf silky oak, and in Hawaii as kāhili flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is an erect shrub or slender tree with divided leaves with four to twelve narrow lobes, and creamy white to bright scarlet and yellow flowers.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 2.4-9 m high. It can spread to 2 m wide. The small branches and flowers have a soft brown covering over them. Some coastal forms almost lie along the ground. The leaf stalk is 3-5 cm long. The leaf blade is 7-20 cm long and deeply divided. There are 3-11 segments and these are 50-100 mm long by 4-7 mm wide. The edges curve back. They are brown and silky underneath. The flowering racemes are at the ends and 5-13 cm long. They occur either singly or as 2 or 3 in a group. The flowers are red. The fruit is oval but not straight. It is 1.5-2 cm long and hairy. The seeds have narrow wings.

Edible Uses

The nectar is edible.

Traditional Uses

CAUTION: There are poisonous hairs on the ovaries of the flowers. These can cause a skin rash.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

The flowers and seed pods contain toxic hydrogen cyanide. The alkyl resorcinols in G. banksii and Grevillea 'Robyn Gordon' are responsible for contact dermatitis.

Distribution

A subtropical species. It grows in warm temperate regions. It is cultivated in S China as an ornamental below 100 m altitude. It needs well drained soils. It suits dry limy soils. It can stand light frost. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Townsville Anderson BG.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Australia, China, East Africa, Hawaii, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Pacific, SE Asia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, USA, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. The seeds grow easily and can remain viable for a couple of years. It produces chemicals which stop plants near it from growing.

Propagation

Seed - Cuttings

Other Uses

The wood is used as a fuel. Used as a shade tree and windbreak for plantations of coffee and tea. The shrubby cultivar 'Fosteri' is a dense shrub that is used as a fence.

Notes

There are 250 Grevillea species. It can be invasive.

Synonyms

Stylurus banksii (R. Brown) O. Degener

Also Known As

Banksova grevilka, Hong yin hua, Kahili flower, Scarlet Grevillea

References (22)

Barwick, M., 2004, Tropical and Subtropical Trees. A Worldwide Encyclopedic Guide. Thames and Hudson p 205
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 508
Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 481
Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 65
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 649

Show all 22 references

Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1990, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 5. Lothian. p 30
Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 352
Greig, D., 1996, Flowering Natives for Home Gardens. Angus & Robertson. p 191
Hearne, D.A., & Rance, S.J., 1975, Trees for Darwin and Northern Australia. AGPS, Canberra p 74, Pl 19
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 113
Holliday, I., 1979, A Field Guide to Australian Native Shrubs. Rigby. p 92
Lord, E.E., & Willis, J.H., 1999, Shrubs and Trees for Australian gardens. Lothian. p 166
Low, T., 1991, Wild Food Plants of Australia. Australian Nature FieldGuide, Angus & Robertson. p 143
Marinelli, J. (Ed), 2004, Plant. DK. p 455
Melzer, R. & Plumb, J., 2011, Plants of Capricornia. Belgamba, Rockhampton. p 280
Molyneux, B. and Forrester, S., 1997, The Austraflora A-Z of Australian Plants. Reed. p 99
Olde, P & Marriott, N., 1995, The Grevillea Book. Kangaroo Press. Vol 2. p 49
Schatz, G.E., 2001, Generic Tree Flora of Madagascar. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden. p 307
Staples, G.W. and Herbst, D.R., 2005, A tropical Garden Flora. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. p 468
Townsend, K., 1994, Across the Top. Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 230
Trans. Linn. Soc. London 10:176. 1810
Young, J., (Ed.), 2001, Botanica's Pocket Trees and Shrubs. Random House. p 416

More from Proteaceae

Grevillea stenobotrya

Rattlepod Grevillea, Sandhill Grevillea, Sandhill Spider Flower

Grevillea striata

Beefwood, Western Beefwood, Silver honeysuckle, Palku, Willer, Arroo-in, Arrongg, Ildeilba, Jildilba, Ildinja, Yinjija, Turrie, Galigali, Bukumara, Dilyarr

Grevillea vestita

Grevillea wickhamii

Holly-leafed Grevillea, Wickham’s Grevillea

Hakea arborescens

Yellow Hakea, Tree Hakea, Common Hakea

Hakea chordophylla

Northern Corkwood, Bootlace oak, Bull Oak