{"product_id":"banksia-spinulosa-birthday-candles","title":"Banksia spinulosa 'Birthday Candles'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBanksia spinulosa\u003c\/em\u003e 'Birthday Candles' is a compact Australian native dwarf shrub valued for its showy golden-yellow flower spikes that emerge through autumn and winter, resembling lit candles standing upright above the foliage. It is one of the most reliable flowering dwarf banksias in cultivation, bred for its tight compact form and prolific seasonal display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt performs best in full sun to part shade with free-draining acidic to neutral soil and is highly drought tolerant, coastal tolerant and low maintenance once established. The fine dark green foliage forms a dense rounded mound year-round, providing structure and texture even when not in flower, while the bold golden flower spikes draw honeyeaters and other nectar-feeding birds into the garden during the cooler months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a feature shrub in native, coastal, modern and low-maintenance gardens, in mass plantings, borders, rockeries and large containers, Banksia 'Birthday Candles' brings reliable seasonal colour, native wildlife value and a compact manageable form that works at the front of the border or as a low feature mass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin:44px 0 16px;\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size:14px;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:1.5px;margin:0 0 8px;padding-top:32px;border-top:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);text-transform:uppercase;color:currentColor;\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 24px;color:currentColor;opacity:0.65;font-size:14px;font-style:italic;\"\u003eAbout Banksia 'Birthday Candles'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);padding:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4;padding-right:12px;font-size:16px;color:currentColor;\"\u003eHow tall does Banksia 'Birthday Candles' grow?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:14px 0 0;line-height:1.7;color:currentColor;opacity:0.85;\"\u003eBanksia 'Birthday Candles' is a dwarf cultivar reaching around 45 to 50 centimetres tall and 90 to 100 centimetres wide at maturity. The compact spreading form makes it ideal for the front of borders, mass plantings, rockeries and large pots.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);padding:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4;padding-right:12px;font-size:16px;color:currentColor;\"\u003eWhy is it called Birthday Candles?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:14px 0 0;line-height:1.7;color:currentColor;opacity:0.85;\"\u003eThe name comes from the upright golden-yellow flower spikes that emerge through autumn and winter, standing erect above the foliage like rows of lit candles. The display is one of the most distinctive features of any dwarf banksia.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);padding:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4;padding-right:12px;font-size:16px;color:currentColor;\"\u003eWhen does Banksia 'Birthday Candles' flower?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:14px 0 0;line-height:1.7;color:currentColor;opacity:0.85;\"\u003eBanksia 'Birthday Candles' produces its golden-yellow flower spikes through autumn and winter, with the main display from late autumn into mid winter. The long flowering period provides reliable cool-season colour when many other plants are dormant.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);padding:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4;padding-right:12px;font-size:16px;color:currentColor;\"\u003eDoes Banksia 'Birthday Candles' attract wildlife?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:14px 0 0;line-height:1.7;color:currentColor;opacity:0.85;\"\u003eYes. Banksia 'Birthday Candles' is a major nectar source for honeyeaters, lorikeets, native bees and butterflies through autumn and winter, when fewer nectar sources are available. It is one of the highest-value plants for cool-season bird activity in Australian gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);padding:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4;padding-right:12px;font-size:16px;color:currentColor;\"\u003eWhere should I plant Banksia 'Birthday Candles'?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:14px 0 0;line-height:1.7;color:currentColor;opacity:0.85;\"\u003eBanksia 'Birthday Candles' grows best in full sun to part shade with free-draining acidic to neutral soil. It suits native gardens, coastal plantings, modern borders, rockeries and large pots, tolerating coastal exposure, dry conditions and reflective heat once established.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);padding:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4;padding-right:12px;font-size:16px;color:currentColor;\"\u003eIs Banksia 'Birthday Candles' drought tolerant?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:14px 0 0;line-height:1.7;color:currentColor;opacity:0.85;\"\u003eYes. Once established, Banksia 'Birthday Candles' is highly drought tolerant and performs reliably through warm dry periods with minimal watering. Through establishment it benefits from light, regular watering to develop the deep root system that supports long-term drought hardiness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);padding:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4;padding-right:12px;font-size:16px;color:currentColor;\"\u003eWhat fertiliser should I use?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:14px 0 0;line-height:1.7;color:currentColor;opacity:0.85;\"\u003eBanksia 'Birthday Candles' is highly sensitive to phosphorus, like most Proteaceae. Use only low-phosphorus native fertilisers, and avoid general-purpose or rose fertilisers, manures and bonemeal, all of which can kill the plant. A light application in early spring is sufficient.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);padding:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4;padding-right:12px;font-size:16px;color:currentColor;\"\u003eCan Banksia 'Birthday Candles' be grown in a pot?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:14px 0 0;line-height:1.7;color:currentColor;opacity:0.85;\"\u003eYes. Banksia 'Birthday Candles' performs excellently in pots and raised planters thanks to its compact dwarf form. Use a native plant or free-draining acidic potting mix, water moderately through warm weather and feed only with low-phosphorus native fertiliser.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Evergreen Trees Direct","offers":[{"title":"20cm","offer_id":46619228569799,"sku":"BANBIR20","price":160.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"30cm\/33cm","offer_id":46623697928391,"sku":null,"price":260.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/4945\/4279\/files\/Banksia_Birthday_Candles_4.png?v=1781135643","url":"https:\/\/www.evergreentrees.com.au\/products\/banksia-spinulosa-birthday-candles","provider":"Evergreen Trees Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}