Plant of the Week HHyybbrriidd WWaarraattaahhss

TTeellooppeeaa

The New South Wales Waratah, Telopea speciosissima, is the floral emblem of the state of New South Wales. However, in recent years, a number of hybrid Waratahs have been developed. These are mostly hybrids between the NSW Waratah, Telopea speciosissima and either the Braidwood Waratah, Telopea mongaensis or the Gippsland or Victorian Waratah, Telopea oreades. Shady Lady® Red Telopea speciosissima x T. mongaensis Hybrid Waratahs are very popular with gardeners. They are tough and vigorous; flowers are abundant, often produced on multiple branching stems and the plants are much less susceptible to disease. Hybrids are easily identified as the leaves have either smooth margins or margins with only few teeth. All have spectacular flower heads, rounded clusters of many individual flowers surrounded by flame-like bracts. The scientific name, Telopea, comes from the Greek, τελοπος, telopos – seen from afar referring to the crimson red flowers, although these days, hybrids come in many colours, crimson, red, pink, white and now even yellow. Care should be taken to plant white Waratahs in sheltered and shaded situations as they are more susceptible to sunburn than the crimson and scarlet varieties and hybrids.

More information on hybrid Waratahs can be found on Angus Stewart’s (of Gardening Australia) website: http://www.angusstewart.com.au/angus-stewart-articles/34-australian-plants/73- newwaratahtelopeavarieties

Text and photograph: Alison Downing & Kevin Downing, 25 September 2011 Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University