Collectors plants — the waratah (Telopea speciosissima)
To locate images associated with this article please visit our
image collection at Country, Farm and Garden Photo Library
Alright, maybe it’s not all that rare, but the waratah is undoubtedly a connoisseur’s plant.
The floral emblem of New South Wales, it is one of Australia’s best known and most spectacular native plants. It is one of five species in a protea family genus confined to southeastern Australia, including Tasmania
Telopea speciosissima is the most commonly grown species and occurs naturally, usually on sandstone, around Sydney from Ulladulla in the south to Lake Macquarie in the north and westwards into parts of the Blue Mountains. It was thought to also occur in northern New South Wales, but the plants in the Gibraltar Range National Park near Grafton are now regarded as a distinct species, T. aspera.
Waratah is an Aboriginal name of uncertain meaning, but the Latin name is easier to trace and very appropriate. Telopea is derived from “telepos”, a Greek word meaning “seen from afar” and speciosissima means very handsome or very showy. So the waratah is the very handsome shrub or small tree that can be seen from afar.
The waratah grows 2–4 m tall and has thick, leathery, dark green leaves that are toothed at the tips and 12–25 cm long. The waratah is, however, not a foliage plant. It is grown for its spectacular spring-borne heads of deep yet glowing red flowers. The head is actually a very closely spaced raceme; the flowers so close together that they give the impression of one large inflorescence. At the base of head are leafy bracts that are usually also red. If pollinated, the flowers are followed many-seeded leathery seed pods around 12 cm long, though unless the seed is required the spent heads should be removed as setting seed takes a lot of a plant’s energy.
In recent years several cultivars, some of them hybrids with T. mongaensis, have become available. Though still not common, you may see the very vivid ‘Braidwood Brilliant’ and the white-flowered ‘Wirrimbirra White’.
Waratahs are not very common for a couple of reasons. First, they’re not always popular with nurseries because, like the closely related Chilean Fire Bush (Embothrium coccineum), they only really sell for the brief period when they’re in flower. Second, waratahs are not easy to propagate or cultivate. They can be grown from cuttings, but seed is the more common method. Tissue culture has been reasonably successful too.
When choosing a plant make sure it has a noticeable swelling at the base of the stem. This swelling is known as a lignotuber and it contains dormant buds from which the plant can reshoot after damage. This evolutionary adaptation enables the waratah to survive the frequent droughts and bush fires of its homeland and is also a valuable reserve should any other misfortune befall the plant.
Waratahs generally do best in sun or partial shade in a friable soil with ample humus. They demand good drainage and as with other members of the protea family are sensitive to excess phosphate in the soil. Don’t dig a large hole to incorporate extra compost as this may cause water to accumulate in the hole leading to wet feet and probable rotting. It’s preferable to just break up the topsoil and make a raised mound of suitable soil and plant in that.
Many waratahs die during the initial establishment period. This is possibly due to essential mycorrhiza failing to establish. These minute fungi form a symbiotic relationship with the roots and are vital in the uptake of nutrients. It has been suggested that taking soil from around an established waratah and putting it around new plants may help lessen these establishment difficulties. Who knows, it can’t hurt to try it.
Water just enough to keep the soil from drying out and use mulches to control weeds rather than pulling them out, which could damage the tender surface roots of the waratah.
Fussy though it seems, the results are well worth the effort.
Copyright Geoff Bryant
|
