Spectacular in bloom with its signature cherry-red, big, plump flower heads, it was proclaimed the official floral emblem of New South Wales in 1962. Through natural selection and breeding programs, today we enjoy endless variations and personalities with never-before-seen colours, like the rare whites and yellows.
Given the right conditions, waratahs are a hardy and reliable plant.
Types and varieties of waratah
There are 5 species of waratah (Telopea sp.). All of these species are located on the eastern coast of Australia, from southern Queensland down to Tasmania. The most famous waratah is the New South Wales Waratah (Telopea speciosissima), and it is the state flower for NSW.
- New South Wales Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)
- Braidwood Waratah (Telopea mongaensis)
- Gippsland Waratah (Telopea oreades)
- Tasmanian Waratah (Telopea truncata)
- Gibraltar Range Waratah (Telopea aspera)
There are a few new hybrids and varieties of waratah that have been developed by nurseries to have changes in colour and shape. Well-known examples include the Shady Lady series, Essie’s Gift and Telopea ‘Gembrook’, which is a bushy, dwarf hybrid.
Growing waratahs at a glance
- When to plant: Autumn or early spring
- Climate: Most climates – they are frost tolerant to about -2°C
- Aspect: Dappled light or morning sun.
- Water: Water from spring to autumn; avoid watering in winter when plant is dormant.
- Soil type: Free-draining, slightly acidic soil.
- Blooms/Harvest: Takes 2-5 years from establishment. Flowers from September to November.
How to plant a waratah
- Water your waratah plant in the pot it was bought in for 1/2 hour. This will reduce the effects of transplant shock. If you’re growing from a cutting, no need to worry about this step.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball of your waratah.
- Place your plant in the hole, taking care not to disturb the fragile roots too much.
- Fill with native soil or low-phosphorus native potting mix. Form a shallow basin around the base of the plant and give it a generous watering.
- Apply 5-10cm of mulch to the plant. Keep the mulch a few centimetres clear of the main stem – this helps prevent fungal rot.
The best aspect for a waratah plant
Grow in dappled light or where you get morning sun rather than full sun that can singe the beautiful tutu-like bracts. Also protect from strong winds that can cause petal burn.
Which soil is best for a waratah?
Waratahs thrive in free-draining, preferably slightly acidic soil, with material such as a leaf compost blended in. Don’t plant into clay soil as they won’t tolerate wet feet. Instead, create a raised planting mound with suitable soil, or grow in a large pot. If your soil is heavy, grow in a raised bed or large container.
Watering waratahs
Start watering waratahs in spring and stop in late autumn when established, making sure to avoid watering in winter when the shrub is dormant. To reach their full potential, waratahs need plenty of water during their growing period (spring and summer) paired with low phosphorus native plant food.
Water well after planting, then at least twice a week in its first summer, even daily when it’s especially hot.
Caring for waratahs
- Fertilising: Keep waratahs moist but not wet during hot or dry periods. Mulch well with an organic material such as leaf litter. Waratahs can be known to rot without proper drainage; be sure to also avoid root disturbance.
- Pests: Keep your eyes out for pests, specifically the macadamia nut borer, which appears in autumn to eat its leaves.
Pruning waratahs
After flowering, trim the canes back by half their length or three-quarters. Established plants can be trimmed back to the swollen base of their trunks, called a lignotuber, to bring on new growth.
Once your plant reaches 10 years old, cut back the canes completely to the lignotuber (swollen base).
How big does a waratah grow?
Waratahs need room to stretch out their roots, and with the right care, waratahs can grow up to the towering height of four metres and three metres wide. 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).
Where do waratahs grow best?
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’.
You can grow waratahs from cuttings. Cut around 15cm long piece with 4-6 leaves and plant in well-draining soil. Keep in mind that it is illegal to pick wild waratahs in most Australian states.
It takes from 2 to 5 years for a waratah plant to flower. Their flowering period is in spring, from September to November.
In most states of Australia, it is illegal to pick waratahs. This is because they are rare to spot in the wild, and there are laws in place to preserve them.
Yes, it is. There are few more iconic Australian natives than the stunning and instantly recognisable waratah. Its crimson flower head has been a major part of Australian arts and crafts since Federation and the 1900s, featuring everywhere from stamps and wallpapers to tea towels and being stylised as the NSW Government’s emblem
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