Family:	Proteaceae
	Distribution:	Open forests and woodlands of the coasts and mountains of New South Wales and Queensland.
	Common Name:	Hairpin Banksia
	Derivation of Name:	Banksia...after Sir Joseph Banks. spinulosa...from Latin spinulosus; bearing spines.
	Conservation Status:	Not considered to be at risk in the wild at the species level.

General Description:

Three varieties of B.spinulosa are recognised; var. spinulosa, var. neoanglica and var. collina. All are small to medium shrubs with stems which arise from a lignotuber. The main difference between the varieties is the width and degree of serration of the leaves. Var.spinulosa is found in several disjunct populations between southern New South Wales and North Queensland, var.neoanglica is found on the New England plateau and var.collina is found in coastal New South Wales north from Sydney. Some intergrading occurs where the ranges overlap.

The flower spikes are 75-100 mm wide, up to 450 mm long and yellow or orange in colour. This is one of a group of banksias with "hooked" styles projecting from the axis of the flower spike. In B.spinulosa these styles are often deep red or black in colour and this has given rise to the common name of "Hairpin Banksia", however, the styles may also be orange or yellow. The seeds are enclosed in follicles attached to a woody cone and are generally retained within the cone until burnt.

Despite the specific name, the foliage is not "spiny" in any sense that suggests that it is painful to touch.

A similar species is B.cunninghamii which is found in southern Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. This is usually a tall shrub which lacks a lignotuber.

All forms of B.spinulosa have proven to be reliable in gardens in a wide range of districts. A number of select forms are becoming available, for example:

• "Birthday Candles" - 0.5 m high x 1 m across; short, orange spikes with reddish styles.
• "Coastal Cushion" - 0.5 m high x 1.5 m across; yellow spikes with maroon styles.
• "Stumpy Gold" - 0.4 m high x 1.2 m wide; golden flower spikes.

Banksia spinulosa 'Birthday Candles'

Another popular cultivar, Banksia "Giant Candles" is thought to be a hybrid with B.spinulosa as one of its parents.

Propagation from seed or cuttings is relatively easy. However, named cultivars must only be propagated from cuttings as they do not come true from seed.