product FRESH FLOWER banksia From the land down under, these long-lasting blooms lend an otherworldly distinctiveness to contemporary Banksia prionotes floral designs. Acorn banksia, Golden banksia, Orange banksia, ‘Orange Frost’ banksia Photo: Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers LLC name dropping The botanical best buys Purchase Banksias when leaf blackening Banksia foliage name “Banksia” (pronounced “BANK-see- approximately one-third of the florets are can turn black due to lack of carbohy- uh”) was given to these unusual blooms in showing stamens or pollen. Watch for drates and low light, so use properly pro- honor of English botanist and naturalist Sir blackened foliage or florets and for any portioned flower food solution (one with Joseph Banks (1743-1820), who is credit- sign of fungus or rot inside the flower glucose rather than sucrose), and provide ed with introducing them to the Western heads. (Banksias rot easily if they get wet.) light during storage for these flowers. world from their native Australia. on arrival Unpack Banksias upon not an issue These botanicals’ physical attributes These dis- their arrival in your store, and check sensitivity to ethylene is low; however, tinctive flowers have large, fuzzy inflo- flower quality. Remove any foliage that always take precautions to reduce levels rescences, cylindrical or conical in would be under water in storage contain- of the harmful gas in your cooler(s) and shape and resembling large bottle ers as well as any that may be concealing throughout your shop. brushes, that are made up of hundreds the blossoms. of small, densely clustered flowers. The If you cannot attend to these flowers facts of life Vase life at the con- flower heads range in length from about immediately, open the box(es), and place sumer level is usually seven to 14 days, four to 10 inches. Leaves are long (up to it/them into a floral cooler until you can depending on species, environmental 20 inches in length) and stiff and have process them. conditions and care, and maturity at the serrated (saw-toothed) edges. Stems are time of sale. thick and woody. food and drink Recut the woody stems on an angle with a sharp blade, life goes on Most Banksias will earthy palette Most Banksia removing at least 1 inch of stem. Do not air-dry nicely, without shedding leaves or blossoms have earth-toned colors of break or smash the stem ends because florets, either standing upright in a con- orange, yellow, red, pink and green. The this will damage the vascular system and tainer or hanging upside down in a cool, flower colors of some species and culti- inhibit water uptake. dry, airy, dark room. vars change over time in vase solutions. Immediately after cutting the stem Banksia hues also can be altered with ends, place them into storage containers family matters Banksias are both absorption-type floral dyes and partially filled with properly propor- members of the Proteaceae family, which spray-on colorants. tioned flower-food solution (see “Leaf also includes Protea, Leucospermum Blackening”). Recut stems, change the (pincushions), Leucadendron (cone- always on Banksias, in general, are vase solution and clean the storage con- bush), Telopea (waratah) and Grevillea available year-round from both domestic tainers every other day. (spider flower, silky oak). and foreign growers; however, some species are produced only during specif- cold care Immediately after pro- home sweet home Most ic months, and there are periods when cessing, place Banksias into a floral cool- Banksias are native to subtropical they are more plentiful, particularly dur- er at 34 F to 38 F, and allow them to Australia, including southern Western ing the cooler seasons in the regions hydrate for at least two hours before Australia, Queensland, New South Wales where they are grown. using or selling them. and Victoria. (SEE VARIETY GLOSSARY ON PAGE 22) 20 WWW. FLORISTSREVIEW. COM ❘ OCTOBER 2012 product FRESH FLOWER Banksia ashbyii* Banksia attenuata Banksia baxteri* Banksia burdettii Ashby’s banksia Coast banksia, Bird’s-nest banksia, Burdett’s banksia Slender banksia Baxter’s banksia Golden banksia, Golden acorn Banksia ‘Candles’* Banksia coccinea* Banksia ericifolia* Banksia hookeriana Banksia integrifolia* Scarlet banksia, Heath banksia, Hooker’s banksia, Coast banksia pods Albany banksia, Heath-leaved banksia Acorn banksia Waratah banksia Banksia menziesii* Banksia occidentalis* Banksia plagiocarpa Banksia praemorsa* Menzies’ banksia, Red swamp banksia, Dallachy’s banksia, Cut-leaf banksia Firewood banksia, Waterbush, Hinchinbrook banksia ‘Raspberry Frost’ banksia ‘Indian Summer’ banksia Banksia prionotes* Banksia robur* Banksia sceptrum Banksia speciosa* Banksia victoriae Acorn banksia, Swamp banksia, Sceptre banksia Showy banksia, Wooly orange banksia ■ Orange banksia, Broad-leaved banksia Rickrack banksia, Golden banksia, Green banksia, ‘Orange Frost’ banksia ‘Mint Julep’ banksia * Photos: Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers LLC 22 WWW. FLORISTSREVIEW. COM ❘ OCTOBER 2012.