I don’t know the answer; in fact, I’m not even sure if that’s a question. All I know is that every time I see a Waratah blooming in the shrubby dry forests of Dharawal National Park, I find myself taking an involuntary deep breath and am filled with a strange mix of awe and love and possessiveness. The inflorescences are incredibly striking, and contrast strongly with the browns, greys and greens of the surrounding vegetation. The plant’s scientific name, Telopea speciosissima, comes from the flower. Telopea = seen from afar. Speciosissima = most precious. Spot on, Greek- and Latin-speaking botanists!
No wonder some people are tempted to take a flower head or two home to enjoy; they are just so entrancing. Sadly though, if you cut off one of these flowers it prevents the plant from producing seeds that might grow into future Waratahs. The seed cases contain a number of small seeds, each equipped with a papery ‘wing’ that helps it disperse. No flowers means no seeds means no new plants. Short answer to the question I didn’t ask: the plants and their flowers belong in the bush.
Unfortunately, growing Waratahs around urban Wollongong is pretty challenging. They prefer the nutrient-poor sandstone soils up on the plateau, and they don’t cope well with the richer soils of the escarpment and coastal plain. I can’t say it’s easy and I’ve bid farewell to several ‘unsuccessful’ Waratahs in my time. But if you want to give it a go, you’ll have the best chances of success if your garden is on a slope where you can recreate the free-draining conditions they prefer, and build up your beds with a low-nutrient soil mix. There are several healthy Waratahs in gardens along Brokers Road in Balgownie, all planted in terraced beds on steep slopes, and sheltered from westerly winds and afternoon sun.
Whether or not you can grow them at home, now’s the time to get out and enjoy them where they occur naturally. And just think of all the insects, honey-eating birds and Eastern pygmy possums that will also be enjoying their nectar, and pollinating the flowers so they can produce the next generation of wild Waratahs.
