Banksia's for birdlife!

The sight and sound of birds in the garden lifts the spirits and soothes the soul. Studies show that birdsong can even increase your property value. NZ tui, bellbirds and wax eyes have a sound all of their own, that most of us think extra special - something worth encouraging with the right kind of planting.

NZ native plants are popular bird magnets but our nectar seeking birds make no distinction between native and exotic trees when looking for food. They especially love Australia’s banksias, which flower mainly in winter when other food sources are scarce.

Banksia flowers are laden with sweet nectar. They also attract insects, a further winter food source for birds. The strikingly architectural flowers, which look fabulous in a vase, are produced in huge profusion for many weeks. Handsome banksias range from tall trees to low spreading shrubs and adapt to a wide range of conditions and are well known for their drought tolerance. They include some very useful shelter trees and many are ideally suited to coastal situations.

Striking and attractive Australian native plants with tough, often serrated leaves and large erect cones of stiff, wiry flowers in shades of greenish-white, yellow and orange through to red. Banksias range from ground covers, low growing shrubs to small trees and are great plants to attract bees and nectar feeding birds to the garden.