Gibraltar Range Waratah

Description:

Unique to the Gibraltar Range of northern NSW Tablelands, this species varies slightly from the Telopea Speciossima. Bright red bracks and flowers are held high on a multi-stemmed shrub with flowering taking place from October through into November each Spring in Australia. There have been rare sightings of the white form, and variations in tonal value of this species occurs within its range. There are several Aboriginal legends about this spectacular plant.

Habitat:

Prefers sandy, granite soils, hence its establishment in the mountains strewn with granite boulders.

Notes:

Our studies and photographs show this plant appears to flower well every second year, with less flowering in alternate years, rainfall and temperature, fire and changing climatic conditions appear to be having an adverse effect on plant regeneration, growth and flowering. We undertake several visits within the flowering season, on this second visit we walked further into granite country to find anything still flowering - a short season with a sudden end for only a handful of flowers.