For a bit of Christmas cheer this week, we have a few short & sweet entries on the red & green Australian Natives lined up. First up- it’s the waratah!

A member of the Proteaceae family, this is a large sculptural flower, whose name means, in Aboriginal, ‘seen from afar’. And that it is – a bright red beauty sitting in amongst green leathery serrated leaves, looking like a flame in its intensity.  The Waratah is grown mainly in small areas of NSW and is that State’s floral emblem.

The Waratah flowers from September to November and is very long lasting when cut. A rare form featuring a white flower is also in existence. Feature this flower in amongst other Australian natives in your table arrangements or spectacularly on its own in square glass vases placed in a row on a long table.

Photo from Australian National Botanic Garden