The basic mineral nutritional requirements of Proteaceae are not well understood.They are generally assumed to require low levels of nutrients and be susceptible to nutrient (especially Phosphorus) toxicity.This project aimed to estimate the general nutritional requirements of Proteaceae for optimum growth, with special emphasis on the Phosphorus requirement. Potted plants were grown in soilless growth media with controlled release fertiliser and were watered according to need in a naturally lit greenhouse. The nutrient requirements of Proteaceae were found to vary among species but were not lower than the reported requirements for the Ericaceae, another heath family. The variables of growth media and plant development were found to be important factors affecting the critical Phosphorus concentration and need consideration in the derivation of the Phosphorus requirement of Banksia ericifolia. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)