The Heath-leaved Banksia (Banksia ericifolia), also known as the Lantern Banksia or Heath Banksia, is a
species of woody
shrub of the
Proteaceae family native to Central and Northern
New South Wales east of the
Great Dividing Range. Well -known for its orange or red autumn inflorescences which contrast with its green fine=leaved heath-like foliage, it has been widely grown in Australian gardens on the east coast for many years as well as being used in the cut flower industry.
Banksia ericifolia was one of the original
Banksia species collected by
Joseph Banks around
Botany Bay in 1770 and was named by
Carl Linnaeus the Younger, son of
Carolus Linnaeus, in 1782. A distinctive plant, it has recently been split into two subspecies.
It is the official plant of
Sydney and is sometimes seen in amenity plantings and parks around the city. It was known as wadanggari (pron. "wa-tang-gre") to the local
Eora and
Darug inhabitants of the Sydney basin.