W for

Waratah

Like most of our native plants the Waratah is complicated.

At first glance you see a brilliant red flower that looks hard and harsh. The foliage also, while green, does not have the soft lines of roses or lilacs.

If you look closely however, you will see many small flowers densely packed into the head, there could be 5 or 6 different shades on the same plant. They look spectacular when in full flower (up to 15cm in diameter).

Waratahs grow in sandy soil, need minimal feeding and hate wet feet. Most of the time you will see Waratahs in prolific flower about 3 months after a bush fire. A bush can be burnt to the ground and will regenerate from the root system. They are the true flower of the bush and, to me, herald hope & regeneration much the same way a rainbow does after rain.

Unfortunately there isn't much success for the home gardener with Waratahs and commercial growers have to be very vigilant with their trees as they can die if over fed or if there is too much rain and not enough drainage. It is very expensive to buy them as a cut flower, most florists will make up a bunch of native flowers with a Waratah as the centrepiece rather than sell them in bunches. 
There are some hardier varieties available in nurseries presently but I wouldn't spend $50.00 on a plant that will probably hate where I put it.  I'm content to go on a bush walk or visit the Botanical Gardens in the city to see them in their preferred habitat.