Waratah Facts

You’ve probably seen this recognisable Australian native flower, especially if you live near Sydney, but we bet you don’t know all of these waratah facts!

• The waratah’s botanical name is ‘telopea speciosissima’. It’s no surprise this mouthful is regularly passed over for its more common name, but its explanation makes a lot of sense with ‘telopea’ meaning ‘seen from afar’ (aptly named considering their size) and ‘speciosissima’ meaning ‘most beautiful’.

• The name waratah comes from the Eora Aboriginal people, the original inhabitants of the Sydney area. It means ‘red flowering tree’

• The waratah generally grows to 3 metres in height and although it looks like one flower it is in fact made up of many flowers joined into a head ranging from 6-15cm in diameter.

• Indigenous Australian legends feature the waratah strongly, and European settlers also depicted them in artworks and pottery.

• Indigenous people used the flower in a number of ways, including as a medicinal tonic for children and by infusing water with the flavour of the blooms to create a sweet drink.

• It was one of the first Australian plants to be collected for cultivation in Europe as there were many near the first settlement.

• This plant is native to south-eastern parts of Australia; New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, but is most common in the Sydney area of NSW.

• New South Wales made this bright red flower its state emblem in 1962. When a new version was unveiled in 2009 at the cost of $5,000, the beautiful flower got caught up in controversy with botanists pointing out that the government had instead used a picture of a lotus, the national flower of India.

• The waratah used to be abundant in the Sydney metro area, but these days the species relies on cultivation in national parks and reserves. Although the flowers make a stunning addition to your home, it is best to let the ones you spot in nature continue to grow and admire them from afar!

• The waratah naturally grows in sandy clay areas and are mainly pollinated by birds attracted to their brilliant colour and nectar.

• There are a number of other species of waratah than the well-known version, with smaller and less impressive flowers. These include the Gibraltar Range Waratah, the Braidwood Waratah, the Gippsland Waratah, and the Tasmanian Waratah.

• The waratah’s natural habitat is often subjected to fires, but the waratah is well prepared. It can regenerate from a ‘lignotuber’ – a rounded woody growth at or below ground level that contains a mass of buds and food reserves.

• It is possible to grow waratahs at home but they should be planted 1.5 metres apart in a partially shaded area, and be watered regularly.

• Waratahs flower over a six-week period in spring in the Sydney region and later in cooler areas.

• The majority of waratah flowers are red and pink, with the size and shape varying. There is also a creamy yellow variety known as ‘Wirrimbirra White’ 

• As the waratah is subject to a huge amount of variables, constant research is undertaken on commercial selection and development.

• The waratah flower makes for an ideal cut flower as it is long lasting and has long straight stems, however, it hardly has any scent. 

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