Telopea speciosissima - waratah

Telopea speciosissima – Waratah

This iconic plant is deservedly the floral emblem of NSW, with it’s beautiful bright red flower heads that are much admired and sought after. It can grow from a large shrub to small tree size in ideal conditions. The flowers can have colour variations in the wild, with pink or white forms being rarely seen, flowers are most often a bright red.

Waratahs grow well on a sandy loam soil with good drainage and some supplementary watering if conditions are very dry. They like good air flow around them, so don’t place too close to other plants.


Plant Information

Plant Type - Small tree, Large shrub
Common Name - Waratah
Scientific Name - Telopea speciosissima
Family - Proteaceae
Cultivar Name -
Other Common Name -
Minimum Height - 2
Maximum Height - 4
Minimum Width - 1
Maximum Width - 3
Flower Colour - Red
Flowering Time - Spring
pH Level - Acid, Neutral
Soil Type - Sandy, Sandy loam, Potting mix
Plant Environment - Flower garden
Climate Zone - Warm temperate, Mediterranean
Light - Light shade, Half shade
Growth Habit - Evergreen, Open foliage
Life Span - Perennial
Soil Moisture - Well-drained
Propagation Method - Seed, Softwood cutting, Semihardwood cutting
Frost Tolerance - Tolerates light frost
Plant Usage - Feature plant, Wow factor
Special Uses - Cut flower
Attracts Wildlife - Bees, Nectar eating birds, Butterflies, Other insects
Angus Cultivar - No