Along the Beach

Shore plants hold their own

Jetty and Hinchinbrook Island, Cardwell, Far North Queensland. © Bronwen Scott.

One of the plants in my collection is the Blue or Dallachy’s Banksia (Banksia plagiocarpa). This species is restricted to munamudanamy/Hinchinbrook Island and a small area of the adjacent mainland where it grows in heathland above 200 metres. The flowers are blue-grey, an unusual colour in banksias. My plant is yet to bloom, but I hope it will one day. I worry that it is getting too much…