Western Australia is home to more than 12,000 species of beautiful wildflowers, 60 per cent of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
We’ve spoken to Frances Pollock from Wooleen Station in central WA to hear about the amazing Western Australian wildflowers that bloom throughout the year. As the hosts of Wooleen Station, David and Frances Pollock have expertise in land conservation and eco-tourism and hold wildflower regeneration very close to their hearts.
Frances gives us a great introduction to the beauty of wildflowers in our western state, “I think it’s the feeling that the wildflowers give you, more than the flowers themselves. A feeling that all is well in the world, so wonderous and delicate.”
The flowering season starts in June and July when the vast plains of outback Australia in Pilbara, Goldfields and Coral Coast fill with colour. The contrast between the red desert earth and the technicolour blooms is truly something to behold. By the time spring rolls around in September, the wildflowers are finally blooming in Perth.
Let’s hear about the ins and outs of Aussie wildflowers, and learn the best ways to grow them yourself.
Common wildflowers in Western Australia
Frances Pollock explains that “WA has one of the most diverse and endemic displays of flowers in the world.” With a huge variety of endemic plants that flower, the following can be considered common WA wildflowers:
- Everlasting daisies/paper daises (Xerochrysum bracteatum)
- Eucalyptus varieties
- Sundew varieties (Drosera)
- Spider orchid varieties (Maxillaria)
- Donkey orchid (Diuris longifolia)
- Blue bounty (Lechenaultia biloba)
- Dubious pincushion (Isopogon dubius)
- Flame peas (Chorizema)
- Banksia varieties
- Hakea varieties
- Verticordia varieties
- Stylidium
Frances Pollock goes on to say, “You’ll find similarities within the cauldron of species, but across the mid and southwest, the species change and differ from country type.” She explains that although there are species that are common across Western Australia, the diversity of their variety is massive. Even everlastings, one of the most seen flower species, have so many different varieties that are unique to each town and region.
Best places to see wildflowers in Western Australia
The best places to see wildflowers in WA is actually across the entire state. Frances says that while this is an extremely hard question to answer, there are a few spots across the western coast that are a worthwhile visit.
Of course, Wooleen Station is at the top of the list, because of the “endless fields of everlastings, and delicate Stylidiums on breakaway outcrops.”
Frances explains that her two other top picks are “Kalbarri National Park for the Verticordia – especially Verticordia monadelpha and Fitzgerald River National Park for the Royal Hakea and breathtaking scenery.”
If you’re looking to see a wide variety of WA wildflowers at national parks, stations and botanical gardens, you can visit the Western Australia tourism website to learn where different flowers bloom.
What’s the best time to see wildflowers?
The best time to see Western Australia wildflowers is during the later half of the year, from late winter into spring. Seeing Western Australian wildflowers is a widespread experience. Because WA is such a large state, wildflower blooming begins in June and July in northern areas first, as temperatures begin to rise. As you continue down the state, wildflowers will bloom from August and into springtime.
Frances Pollock describes this beautiful transformation as a ‘flush of flowers’; “This means you can plan a road trip from the north to the south, chasing flowers as they bloom! You don’t need to miss the flowers in Esperance, because you’re visiting Mount Augustus.”
Frances says that there are perennial flowers or flowers that bloom year-round, but the large displays that WA are famous for are annuals that become visible in late winter and spring.
Precautions to take when visiting wildflower fields
When asked about the ‘Leave no trace’ principle for wildflowers, Frances gave a resounding ‘Absolutely.’
“Leave no trace principles are always fundamental when in nature, to ensure your full enjoyment and that of others. The items we find in nature have a role to play, either in the ecosystem or the story of the landscape. Leaving what we find in place helps to preserve both.”
Leave no trace refers to leaving a national park, regenerated area and wild areas with all of the things you brought with you. That includes any rubbish or waste you may have accumulated. Leave no trace also includes making sure that you do not attempt to change or remove things, like picking flowers, taking seashells or altering the landscape for your benefit.
How to grow your own wildflowers
Growing wildflowers is trickier than other Australian native plants. According to Frances, “Some types are so endemic to the soil and climate of WA that it would be hard to grow them outside of their home.” However, she exclaims that growing your own wildflowers is lots of fun!
The best benefit to wildflowers in your backyard, apart from their beauty, is bringing Australian birdlife and bees to your garden. Encouraging wildlife in urban spaces promotes biodiversity, and means our amazing Aussie eco-system can be further preserved and protected.
While some Western Australian wildflowers may be difficult to grow outside of their endemic region, Frances suggests to try out planting everlastings, as they are an easy species to practice with. Her advice for growing wildflowers in your backyard is as follows:
- Soil should be well-draining and sandy
- Wildflowers should be positioned in a sunny area of the garden. Most wildflowers will need full sun to produce an abundance of flowers
- Fertiliser is not necessary, as similar to most Aussie natives, but if you did want to feed your plants, an all-purpose general fertiliser would suffice
Will you try and grow your own wildflower meadow now that you’ve seen how amazing they look? Or, will you go and visit WA to see them for yourself?
Travelling to see the WA wildflowers is a transforming experience, one that has definitely cast a spell on Frances for many years, “The sweet scent left on the breeze at dusk. The ballads of the birds and native bees as they move from plant to plant. The absolute delicate creation of mother nature, working in harmony to create something so beautiful. You cannot sit amongst the kaleidoscope of colour and not feel at ease within yourself”
