Banksia 'Waite Orange' facts for kids

Banksia 'Waite Orange' is a special type of Banksia plant. It's a variety that has been officially registered, meaning it's a unique plant type protected by plant breeders' rights. This plant is a hybrid, which means it was created by crossing two different parent plants: the Hooker's Banksia (B. hookeriana) and the Acorn Banksia (B. prionotes). Because it's a mix of these two, it usually looks like a combination of both its parents.

About 'Waite Orange'

Banksia 'Waite Orange' is known for being a bushy plant that grows year after year. It has green leaves and produces beautiful flowers. These flowers have buff-colored parts and bright orange tips, which makes them very eye-catching.

How it was Created

This unique Banksia was first bred in 1988. It came from a seed of the Hooker's Banksia plant that was pollinated naturally. This happened during a special plant breeding program. The program was led by Dr. Margaret Sedgley at the University of Adelaide in South Australia. She worked in the Department of Horticulture, Viticulture and Oenology at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute.

A few years later, in 1991, the plant was officially registered as a new variety. This was done by a company called Luminis Pty Ltd, which is part of the University of Adelaide. The registration was officially approved on April 6, 1992.

What Makes it Special?

Banksia 'Waite Orange' has several features that make it stand out. Its leaves, plant height, and overall width are usually somewhere between those of its two parent plants. However, it produces larger flowers than either the Hooker's Banksia or the Acorn Banksia. Not only are the flowers bigger, but this plant also produces more of them.

Because it grows so many large, beautiful flowers, Banksia 'Waite Orange' is very useful for the cut flower trade. This means it's a great plant for people who grow flowers to sell as bouquets or decorations.