Telopea speciosissima

Waratah

Floral Emblem of NSW

Family: Proteaceae

Telopea speciosissima is an erect, long-branched shrub up to 4m high. It is widely distributed in forests on rocky hillsides.

The "flower" is actually a dense cluster of small individual blossoms supported by red floral bracts.

The large grey-green leaves are stiff, varied from slightly to very serrated.

Telopea means "seen from afar'. The Aboriginal people describe the plant with a word that sounds like 'waratah'.

Telopea speciosissima flowers in September and October.

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