UC Santa Cruz Arboretum-Obsessing on the Banksias

 Last weekend I took a brief road trip to Santa Cruz , a beach city on the north tip of Monterey Bay. The primary reason for the trip was a production at a regional theater company , and because the run was short it was December or nothing; a relative was in the cast so nothing wasn't an option. And I knew this month would be an excellent time to visit the University of  California  Santa Cruz Arboretum-they have a robust collection of both Australian and South African winter blooming plants. The unstable weather that was predicted held off and I had a great stroll and photo shoot for a few hours on Saturday morning. I took so many photos there will be two posts, and in this one I will feature the Banksias. My climate is  marginal for these plants, though many will tolerate some frost and the dislike of summer rain and humidity is not an issue here. I plan to try one in a container next year just for fun.

 Remarkably-for me-I actually noted some names by photographing the plant labels. I have to say the plant labeling at this garden has improved significantly since the last time I visited, though were still labels I couldn't find or couldn't read due to an inaccessible location.









 Looking at the seedheads is just as much fun as looking at the flowers.


Banksia serrata



 I have no ID on this one but it was one of the brightest colored.



 I'm posting three photos of this plant, but I think I took about 20. Love the flower in all stages,  love the foliage -one of my favorites.








 Banksia victoriae
('Wooly Orange Banksia)


 The Banksias ranged from sprawling prostrate woody ground covers to 30ft plus trees. In this shot I was pointing my camera up.




More great seedpods !





 The foliage can be quite varied. There were a couple different cultivars of the 'Heath Leaved Banksia' but I would be hard pressed to tell them apart.


Banksia ericifolia



Banksia media
'Southern Plains Banksia' 

 The common name for this on was 'Hairpin Banksia'  and if my image was in better focus you could see the hairpin shape of the filaments in the flower.

Banksia spinulosa


The flowers here were quite small, maybe two or three inches tall at the most on a dense 4x4 bush.

Banksia meisneri
'Scott River Banksia'


  I didn't get a name for this one but what great foliage !



 I'll wrap this post up with a few more tagless plant photos-maybe I'll do better with the IDs next time.




 Stand by for another installment from this unique botanical garden.

Comments

  1. It's taken me a while to warm up to Banksia. I previously linked the plants with the image of the nasty "Banksia men" conjured up by an Australian author of children's books but they're growing on me (no pun intended).

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    Replies
    1. They are endlessly fascinating plants aren't they ? No wonder they fired up her imagination.

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  2. These are great photos. I like the idea of focusing on one genre. Everytime I visit the UCSC Arboretum, I want to live in Santa Cruz.

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  3. Banksia are such funky plants, such weird flowers and odd foliage. Not like anything else. Thanks for sharing your great photos.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Alison, I was so happy to have timed my visit when so many were in bloom.

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  4. Be still my heart! Thanks for all the luscious photos.

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    Replies
    1. I may have to make a December visit to this garden an annual event.

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  5. Wow, wow wow! what fabulous pics Kathy. An incredible collection

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Deanne, this arboretum has some pretty unique plants.

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  6. I have two banksias at the moment, a B. ashbyi in a small pot and a B. repens that has been in the ground going on two years, very slow growing but still alive. If K. is ever in a production closer to SoCal, let me know!

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    Replies
    1. I'm going to put one in a pot just for fun-what the hell right ? If I buy one At the RBG spring sale it won't set me back too much.

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  7. This was fascinating. thank you so much for sharing this.

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    Replies
    1. I'm glad you enjoyed- I hope to post part 2 from this garden over the New Year.

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  8. I dream of finding a Banksia victoriae for sale. So cool.

    Loved your photos.

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