Hakea bucculenta

Hakea bucculenta is one of the many spectacular flowering species of the Hakea genus, named after the German botanist Baron von Hake. The species name – bucculenta – means swollen cheeks, referring to the shape of the fruit.

Hakea bucculenta has narrow greyish-green leaves and stunning 15 cm orange-red flower spikes which can be seen from June to September. They explain its common name of Red Pokers.

This shrub or small tree can reach a height of 3 to 7 metres and a width of 2.5 metres. It needs adequate space, protection from wind, well-drained soil, and full sunlight for optimum flowering, but it can be pruned. The fruits rarely open unless exposed to fire or on the death of the plant, but the seeds provide food for parrots and black cockatoos. The flowers are much favoured by all of our honeyeaters and nectar-feeding insects. It makes an very attractive feature plant.

At Kings Park it can be seen in the Grevillea and Hakea Garden in Roe Gardens and along the road next to the Mt Eliza reservoir. Its natural distribution is the northern coastal sandplains from Geraldton as far as Shark Bay.

As with many species in the family it is susceptible to Phytophthora cinnamomi, a soil-borne water mould that produces an infection of the plant which leads to dieback.

Ask in the Visitor Information Centre if you need help finding this plant, or join one of our free daily guided walks.