 Banksia verticillata grows as a spreading , bushy shrub with many branches up to 3 m ( 10 ft ) high , but can reach 5 m ( 16 ft ) high in sheltered locations . It may be much lower or even adopt a prostrate habit in highly exposed areas which are blasted by high wind , or occasionally grow as a single @-@ trunked tree . The rough grey bark has fissures , the stems and branches are finely hairy when young and become smooth with age . The leathery bright green leaves are arranged whorled , or alternately on branches , and are borne on 0 @.@ 5 – 1 @.@ 1 mm long petioles . They measure 3 – 9 cm ( 1 @.@ 4 – 3 @.@ 8 in ) in length , and 0 @.@ 7 – 1 @.@ 2 cm ( 0 @.@ 3 – 0 @.@ 5 in ) in width , and are elliptic in shape with entire ( straight ) recurved margins . They are initially hairy and become smooth with maturity , although their undersides remain covered with white hair . The golden @-@ yellow inflorescences appear in summer and autumn ( January to April ) and are 8 – 20 cm ( 3 – 8 in ) high and 6 @.@ 5 cm ( 2 @.@ 6 in ) wide . The smooth pistils are 3 – 3 @.@ 5 cm long and hooked at the end . Individual flowers open from the base of the flower spike , the wave of anthesis moving up the inflorescence . Occasionally , flowers on exposed parts may open early . It takes around 9 @.@ 5 days for all flowers to open , and rates are similar during the day and night . The inflorescences age to grey and the individual old flowers linger for some time before falling . Up to 100 small woody follicles may follow on old flower spikes . Measuring 1 @.@ 1 – 1 @.@ 5 cm wide , 3 – 4 mm wide , and jutting out 2 – 3 mm from the spike , they open after several years , releasing the seed . Follicles more commonly appear in the middle third of the spike . The reasons for this are unknown , although timing of visits by pollinators or some anatomical factor may be relevant . 
