The Waratah (Telopea speciosissima) is plant native to Australia and is a part of the plant family, Proteaceae, a flowering-plant family that is distributed throughout the Southern Hemisphere. The Waratah is found in gardens and parks in all states of the eastern part of

Australia such as New South Wales,

Victoria and Tasmania; it flowers from

September to November. The waratah is a

stout, erect shrub which may grow to

4 metres; it has dark green leathery leaves

around 13-25cm in length and tend to be coarsely toothed. The flowers are grouped in rounded heads 7-10cm in diameter and surrounded by cherry bracts, about 5-7cm long. The flower is a bright, deep red colour with buds. The word Waratah comes from the Eora people – the area’s original inhabitants – and means red flowering tree. It also comes from the Greek Telopos, meaning Telopia – meaning seen from long distances from its bright crimson colour.