The Waratah

The Waratah or Telopea is one of Australia’s most iconic flowers and one of the most spectacular members of the Protea Family. While there are many different species, Telopea speciosissima or more commonly known as the New South Wales waratah, is the most recognizable.

The name Waratah, an Aboriginal name for “beautiful” comes from the Eora people, the original inhabitants of the Sydney area. The botanical term for this flower is perfect, seeing that the blooms are big and visible from far away... Telopea which comes from the Greek word “Telepos” literally means “seen from afar”. Anyone who has seen a waratah in the field would agree with the appropriateness of the name.

The round, crimson blooms, razor green leaves and long stems are truly a standout in the field during the springtime. Each waratah flower is comprised of a group or cluster of flowers. Exactly how many depends on the species… ranging from as few as 10 to as many as 240 individual flowers, surrounded by a circle of delicate floral bracts.

When buying Waratah look for:

1. Choose blooms with 1/2 of the flowers or styles open. 
2. Avoid blooms with drooping bracts or leaves.

Flower Care:

1.  Keep cool. 
2. Strip leaves from the bottom half of each stem. 
3. Re-cut at least ¼” off the stems and place in cool water. 
4. Replace water frequently.

With its stunning crimson-red blooms and lush, dark green foliage, Waratah are stunning focal flowers when showcased in spring bouquets and arrangements.

Waratah

Waratah. Think Gorgeous! They’re a diverse group of flowers that are part of the Protea family. The name Waratah, an Aboriginal name for “beautiful” comes from the Eora people, the original inhabitants of the Sydney area. The botanical term for this flower is perfect, seeing that the blooms are big and visible from far away... Telopea which comes from the Greek word “Telepos” literally means “seen from afar”. Anyone who has seen a waratah in the field would agree with the suitability of the name.

The large red blooms stand out amongst the green of the bush, and the shrub stands tall, strong and erect with long, leathery leaves. Each waratah flower is actually comprised of a group or cluster of flowers. Exactly how many depends on the species… ranging from as few as 10 to as many as 240 individual flowers, surrounded by a circle of floral bracts.

For those who believe in the special healing power or essence of flowers, Waratah represents hope where all seems hopeless, offering the necessary life support and courage needed during dark times. It offers strength and courage to cope with crisis and will bring survival skills to the front. Whatever the Waratah’s magical and spiritual properties maybe… there’s no doubt these beautiful flowers will bring cheer and joy to anyone’s day.

December Articles of Interest

Resendiz Brothers Earns BloomCheck Certification

Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers was one of the first three farms in the country to earn BloomCheck certification when the program started in 2013. In another first, they’ve become one of the earliest farms to renew their certification.

“I really felt that it was important that our customers realize that we’re dedicated to sustainable farming, that we respect the land and we’re environmentally friendly,” Diana Roy business manager for Resendiz Brothers, said of becoming an early adopter.

Read more here.
_____________________________________________________________

Les Hodge | A hardy work of exotic, alien beauty

Leucadendrons are tough, easy-to-grow plants given their preferred growing conditions of deep acidic soil in full sun with plenty of air circulation.

Many can withstand strong, salty winds so are suited to coastal areas. Most will take light frost and are drought tolerant once established, making them a good choice for our hot summers.

The flowers are woody cone-like structures giving rise to the leucadendron's common name of cone bush.

Read more here.
_____________________________________________________________

30 Amazing Protea Wedding Bouquets

Protea plants, also known as sugarbushes, have become a favorite in the wedding world. The blooms—which are native to South Africa—come in a number of different varieties, and each is beloved for its unique shape or color. These include the big king protea, the unusual pincushion protea, and the aptly-named blushing bride protea. Whichever you like, we recommend incorporating it into your wedding bouquet for a bold and beautiful arrangement. For inspiration, look no further than these unique protea wedding bouquet ideas.

Read more here.

Waratah Bouquet

Flowers are the special things that can change just about everything. From bouquets of fresh-cut garden flowers to extravagant arrangements, each inspires a burst of joy and a lot of wonderment. With spring’s abundance of blooms and foliage, I ventured into the fields to see what treasures I could find to create something simply elegant.

During this trip into the fields I realized the phrase ‘Better Late than Never’ certainly applied. As I came across two of my favorite spring flowers that typically bloom in March… Waratah and Boronia, I knew I was on the right track. I reminded myself that the name Waratah is an Aboriginal name for “beautiful” and the botanical name Telopea means “seen from a distance’.  There was no doubt that I'd miss any of these Waratah, even if they're late bloomers. The Boronia also couldn’t be avoided as that wonderful lemony fragrance drew me right to the petite, bell-like flowers with delicate deep green leaves.

I found my treasures and knew I could create something fabulous.

As I gathered stems of leucadendron, banksia foliage and berzelia to complete by bouquet, I felt inspired!