Telopea speciosissima

(Sm.) R. Br.

Waratah, New South Wales Waratah

Proteaceae Edible: Nectar 2,949 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Telopea speciosissima, commonly known as the New South Wales waratah or simply waratah, is a large shrub in the plant family Proteaceae. It is endemic to New South Wales in Australia. No subspecies are recognised; the closely related Telopea aspera was classified as a separate species in 1995. T. speciosissima is a shrub to 3 or 4 m (9.8 or 13.1 ft) high and 2 m (6.6 ft) wide, with dark green leaves. Its several stems arise from a pronounced woody base known as a lignotuber. The species is well renowned for its striking large red springtime inflorescences (flowerheads), each including hundreds of individual flowers. These are visited by the eastern pygmy possum (Cercartetus nanus), birds such as honeyeaters (Meliphagidae), and various insects. The floral emblem for its home state of New South Wales, Telopea speciosissima has featured prominently in art, architecture, and advertising, particularly since Australian federation. Commercially grown in several countries as a cut flower, it is also cultivated in home gardens, requiring good drainage yet adequate moisture, but is vulnerable to various fungal diseases and pests. A number of cultivars with various shades of red, pink and even white flowers are available. Horticulturists have also developed hybrids with T. oreades and T. mongaensis which are more tolerant of cold, shade, and heavier soils.

Description

A medium sized shrub. It is tall, slender and rather stiff. It grows 2-3 m high. It spreads 1-2 m across. It has many stems. The leaves are broad and grey-green. They are leathery and have lobes. They have small teeth around the edge. The flower is large and bright red.

Edible Uses

The flowers produce copious amounts of nectar that can be sipped directly from the blooms or used to make a sweet beverage.

Traditional Uses

The flowers are sucked for their nectar. It can also be used to make a drink.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It grows in temperate regions. It will also grow in the subtropics. It needs well drained soils. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It can stand light frosts. They do not like lime or alkaline soils. It suits hardiness zones 9-10.

Where It Grows

Australia*, Slovenia, Tasmania,

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in a warm greenhouse. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out into permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Other Uses

The stems are used in basket making.

Synonyms

Embolthrium speciosissimum SmithEmbolthrium spathulatum Cav.Embolthrium speciosa Salisb.Hylogyna speciosa Knight

Also Known As

Avstralska telopeja

References (20)

Blomberry, A.M., 1979, Australian Native Plants. Angus and Robertson p 171
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 969
Bonney, N., 1997, Economic Native Trees and Shrubs for South Australia. Greening Australia (SA) inc. Campbelltown SA 5074 p 169
Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 1003
Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 183

Show all 20 references

Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 45
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1404
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 189
Flora of Australia Volume 16, Elaeagnaceae, Proteaceae 1. Melbourne: CSIRO Australia (1995) p 387
Greig, D., 1996, Flowering Natives for Home Gardens. Angus & Robertson. p 313
Grieg, D., 2002, A photographic guide to Wildflowers of South-eastern Australia. New Holland. p 117
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 297
Holliday, I., 1979, A Field Guide to Australian Native Shrubs. Rigby. p 190
Holliday, I., 1989, A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Hamlyn. p 302
http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/plants
Lavelle, M., 2008, Wild Flowers of Australia and Oceania. Southwater. p 97
Low, T., 1992, Bush Tucker. Australia’s Wild Food Harvest. Angus & Robertson. p 170
Maiden, JH, 1889, The Useful Native Plants of Australia. Compendium. Melbourne. Reprinted 1975.
Molyneux, B. and Forrester, S., 1997, The Austraflora A-Z of Australian Plants. Reed. p 153
Trans. Linn. Soc. London 10:198. 1810