Go wild for wildflowers!
2023-09-27T09:10:09+10:00
From June to November, Western Australia becomes a tapestry of colour as different regions take turns to burst into bloom. Discover a few colourful varieties you can grow at home!
Western Australia is home to more than 12,000 wildflower species, and around 60 per cent of these flowers don’t grow naturally anywhere else in the world. The wildflowers can be found over a huge geographic area that covers thousands of kilometres, from the Pilbara region in the north, sweeping through to Ravensthorpe in the south. Blooming occurs in different regions between June and November, and in all regions the flower display is most prolific after abundant rain.
Wildflowers to grow in your garden
Many Australian wildflowers are suitable for growing in your home garden, and some can even be grown in pots. They all require low or no humidity and free-draining soil. Here are three varieties to get you started…
Everlasting (Rhodanthe chlorocephala subsp. rosea)
This is a popular annual everlasting for home gardeners. Perfect for pots or meadow-style gardens, it has white to deep pink daisy flowers that enchant for months.
- Suitable for pots and gardens
- Sunny position
Royal hakea (Hakea victoria)
This has a column-like habit and decorative leathery leaves that age to cream, orange and red. It prefers poor soil and cool winters.
- Grows 2–3m high, 1m wide
- Suitable for pots
- Sunny position
Qualup bell (Pimelea physodes)
The eye-catching reddish-purple and cream bell-shape ‘flowers’ are actually bracts (rather than petals) surrounding small individual flowers inside. One of the most well-known of the pimeleas, it’s also one of the most temperamental, so grafted plants are recommended for east coast gardens.
- Grows 1m high, 1m wide
- Suitable for pots
- Sunny position
Header image credit: Tourism Western Australia
