Growth of Slender Banksia from seedling planting, with and without fertiliser

Abstract

SummarySlender Banksia (Banksia attenuata) is a primary component of declining Banksia woodlands around Perth, south‐western Australia. It is important that its re‐establishment be promoted, but there are little data on its growth rates and response to applied nutrients. To quantify longer‐term growth rate, I periodically measured heights of Slender Banksia planted mid‐2005 over 7½ years. Without fertiliser, these seedlings grew slowly to about 1½ m. In mid‐2009, I planted Slender Banksia on the same site, with and without fertiliser tablets, and evaluated survival, growth and root development over 1½ years. First‐summer Slender Banksia seedling survival of around 30% was not unusual for this species. Low‐phosphorus native plant fertiliser tablets increased growth significantly.