Banksia ornata is a shrub that typically grows to a height of about 3 m (9.8 ft) but does not form a lignotuber.

[2][4][5][6][7] Banksia ornata was first formally described in 1854 by Carl Meissner from an unpublished description by Ferdinand von Mueller.

The description was published in Linnaea: ein Journal für die Botanik in ihrem ganzen Umfange, oder Beiträge zur Pflanzenkunde.

[8][9] The specific epithet (ornata) is from the Latin word ornatus meaning "decorated", referring to the flowers and leaves.

Species observed feeding at its flowers include Anthochaera carunculata (red wattlebird), Melithreptus brevirostris (brown-header honeyeater), Melithreptus lunatus (white-naped honeyeater) and Zosterops lateralis (silvereye).