Telopea speciosissima
| Telopea speciosissima | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-7.3 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 10' |
| Width: | 7' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Telopea speciosissima (common name: waratah)
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.
Cultivation: Prefers a rather poor stony soil[1]. Requires a lime-free soil[2]. Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil that is low in phosphates[3]. Requires a lot of summer heat, abundant moisture in the growing season and a dry spell when dormant[3].
Only succeeds outdoors in the milder areas of Britain[2], requiring greenhouse protection in most parts of the country[4]. The plant is hardy to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[5], 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[6].
This plant is the floral emblem of New South Wales[5][2].
Range: Australia - New South Wales.
Habitat: Dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone soils[7].
Edibility: The flowers produce copious amounts of nectar, this can be sipped directly or used to make a sweet beverage[8].
Usage: The stems are used in basket making[9].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ Holliday, Ivan and Ron Hill. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller, 1974.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Taylor, Jane. The Milder Garden. Dent, 1990.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Wrigley, John and Murray Fagg. Australian Native Plants. Collins, 1988.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Carolin, R. Flora of the Sydney Region. Reed, 1993.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Cribb, Alan. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins, 1981.