Acacia pycnantha, golden wattle, has the distinction of being Australia’s floral emblem and is a tall shrub or small tree that may reach a height of 8m. The long leaves are 20cm long with a prominent mid-vein. Flowers are presented in globular heads with each head containing up to 60 individual golden-yellow blooms.

Plants become covered in flowers during spring. Cut off the flowers after they fade. This will keep the plants bushy and at a reasonable height. 

Eucalyptus globulus, blue gum, is Tasmania’s floral emblem and is a tall tree with a single trunk. The bark is rough at the base and smooth on the upper branches. Leaves may reach 30cm long, dark green, thick and glossy. Large flowers are solitary, up to 4cm across and white to cream in colour. Flowering extends from September to December.

The blue gum is strictly for cultivation on rural properties. They are too large for suburbia and will overpower the garden. Also removal will cost a small fortune when they become too large.

Epacris impressa is known as the pink or common heath and is Victoria’s floral emblem. The common heath grows into a small shrub reaching a height of 1.5m. The branches are stiff and leaves are small and crowned with a sharp point. The flowers are tubular, packed closely around the stems and range in colour from white to deep red. Flowering occurs from autumn to spring. Honeyeaters are attracted to the nectar-rich flowers. A form known as “Bega” has deep pink flowers.

Telopea speciosissima, the waratah, is NSW’s floral emblem and is the most colourful of all Australia’s floral emblems. At one stage, the waratah was being considered as the nation’s floral emblem.

The waratah develops into a multi-stemmed shrub that in the wild reaches a height of 3m. In cultivation, pruning will keep plants lower, increase the number of stems and flowers. The leaves are 25cm long, leathery and with toothed margins. The large, usually red flowers are borne in globular heads on the ends of branches. There may be up to 90 individual blooms in each head.

In spring, the flowers light up both bushland and gardens. Plant respond positively to hard pruning after flowering. Each new shoot will carry a flower head next flowering season. Flowers have a long vase life and have found a place in the cut flower market. Waratahs prefer a well-drained situation.

In recent years numerous cultivars have appeared in nurseries. “Braidwood Brilliant” is a cultivar that has proved to be frost tolerant and would be worth cultivating in local gardens. 

In the future, the rest of Australia’s floral emblems will be described.