Dryandra Nivea

Dryandra nivea, commonly known as Honeypot Dryandra, is a rounded, much-branched shrub endemic to Western Australia. It typically grows up to about 1.3 meters high and wide, with no lignotuber. Its foliage features attractive, fern-like leaves with a silver underside, giving it ornamental appeal. Flower heads appear in winter and spring with cream-colored to orange flowers, highly attractive to nectar-feeding birds like the western spinebill, and also bees and other insects. The plant is known for its mound-shaped growth and dense evergreen foliage.

Description
Height and Width: About 1 to 1.3 meters tall and wide.

Leaves: Linear, pinnatipartite with triangular lobes; green with silver undersides.

Flowers: Orange, cream to red hues appearing in winter and spring.

Growth Habit: Rounded shrub with dense, evergreen, mound-shaped foliage.

Wildlife: Attracts birds, bees, and insects.

Caring
Drought and frost resistant once established.

Requires little pruning.

Best fed with low-phosphorus native fertilisers or slow-release fertilisers formulated for native plants.

Avoid phosphorus-rich fertilizers as Banksias, including Dryandra, are sensitive to phosphorus.

Adaptability
Tolerates light frost and drought.

Can do well in sunny or lightly shaded areas.

Suitable for pot cultivation if planted in well-draining native soil.

Can tolerate coastal conditions, including salt and wind.

Growing Conditions
Prefers sunny locations but can tolerate light shade.

Thrives in well-drained soils: sandy, loamy, or sandy loam soils.

Soil pH: Acidic to neutral.

Benefits from raised beds if natural drainage is poor.

Can grow in a range of soil types provided the soil is free-draining.

Does not require heavy fertilization but responds well to small applications of slow-release low-phosphorus fertilizers at planting.

In summary, Banksia nivea (Honeypot Dryandra) is a drought and frost-resistant native Australian shrub with attractive silvery-green foliage and bright orange to cream flowers. It adapts well to sunny or partly shaded well-drained soils and is low-maintenance, requiring minimal pruning and careful fertilization to avoid phosphorus sensitivity, making it an excellent choice for native, coastal, or drought-tolerant gardens.