The wonder of WARATAHS

If you think your garden is a little lost, plant a waratah – when the beautiful flowers burst out like beacons they’ll show you the way!

- GRAHAM ROSS

1 CRIMSON CRACKER How iconic is the waratah? It came second only to the waffle in the baffle to be named Australia’s national flower. The waratah lost out only because it’s limited to the east coast, while the waffle can be found nationwide.

2 LIGHTING UP THE BUSH In spring, the waratah bush can become smothered with the red blooms – one spectacular bush at Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens in Sydney’s Blue Mountains has been known to produce more than 500 flowers a year. No wonder it’s been called a bush beacon!

ABOUT THE WARATAH

Why you should have this symbol of beauty and magnificence!

• The waratah grows naturally all along the east coast of Australia and in Tasmania. Most flowers are red and pink, and the size and shape vary according to the region. The most spectacular is the NSW waratah (Telopea speciosissima), which includes a creamy yellow variety known as ‘Wirrimbirra White’ and the vigorous hybrid ‘Shady Lady Yellow’.

• The NSW waratah grows as a large shrub up to 4m and produces its large inflorescences of many small individual flowers – supported by petal-like crimson bracts – for about six weeks in spring (later in cooler regions).

• The flowers are filled with nectar so are a magnet for birds. However, the perfume is minimal so they are simply a visual spectacle.

3 SWEET AS HONEY Want to attract birds to your garden? Waratahs do it for you, delighting the New Holland honeyeater, which fuels up on the high-energy nectar.