We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Telopea speciosissima - (Sm.)R.Br.

Common Name Waratah
Family Proteaceae
USDA hardiness 8-11
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone soils[265].
Range Australia - New South Wales.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Telopea speciosissima Waratah


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Telopea_speciosissima.jpg
Telopea speciosissima Waratah
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Casliber

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Telopea speciosissima is an evergreen Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 2 m (6ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year, in flower in May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Nectar
Edible Uses:

The flowers produce copious amounts of nectar, this can be sipped directly or used to make a sweet beverage[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Basketry

The stems are used in basket making[156].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a rather poor stony soil[167]. Requires a lime-free soil[182]. Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil that is low in phosphates[166]. Requires a lot of summer heat, abundant moisture in the growing season and a dry spell when dormant[166]. Only succeeds outdoors in the milder areas of Britain[182], requiring greenhouse protection in most parts of the country[1]. The plant is hardy to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[157], but this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer colder and wetter winters. Plants have been known to tolerate temperatures down to -5° in Britain, occasionally lower when in a very good position[200]. This plant is the floral emblem of New South Wales[157, 182].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a warm greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

AUSTRALASIA: Australia (New South Wales (east-central))

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Sm.)R.Br.

Botanical References

200265

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

caitlin   Thu Nov 2 2006

this is not enough information on the telopea, even if this information is pretty well said, even i can understand it...but its not enough information...can oyu recomend a site that has alot more info? i really need this info for an assignment that will determine if i go up a grade in high school, so please recommend a site...and soon...please

Ken Fern, Plants for a Future.   Mon Nov 6 2006

A site with quite a lot of background information on this plant is http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/nsw.emblem.html

angela cooper   Sat Mar 1 2008

I wish to buy a telopea shrub for my Surrey Garden, who are suppliers in UK. The Warratah was my school emblem thats why I want to have a plant in my new border.

Jose Waizel-Bucay   Thu Jan 1 2009

Synonym; Embothrium speciossimum S. Common names: New South Wales Waratah, waratah

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Telopea speciosissima  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.