Australia is well known for its breathtaking landscapes and interesting fauna, but it also has an amazing array of native flora that showcases the unique ecosystem. Australian Native Flowers have evolved to thrive in the harsh climate, but in many cases, they also have cultural significance. So, here we’ll explore the rich diversity of the native plants you’ll find here in Australia.
8 Australian Native Flowers
Although there are thousands of native species of plants in Australia, here are the 10 most interesting that could add colour to your landscaping or be a highlight when you’re hiking a trail.
1/ Banksia:
There are more than 173 species of banksia and all but one are found in Australia. These colourful flowers bloom in a variety of shades from white, yellow and orange to red. Banksia not only looks pretty, but since the flowers are full of nectar, they attract native bees and birds.
Depending on the variety, Banksia can be ground covering, low growing shrubs or even low branching trees. Most varieties need full sun and a well-drained, sandy soil to thrive. However, while they require regular watering after planting, once established, they can tolerate dry conditions and are quite low maintenance.
2/ Xanthorrhoea “Black Boys”
This Australian native flower is found in Western Australia, particularly in sandy, gravelly or loamy soils. This slow growing shrub is perennial and takes its nickname from the blackened trunks that are topped with the dense clumps of leaves.
These plants are typically single trunked and they can grow up to four metres tall. It can take decades for Xanthorrhorea to fully mature, but they can live up to 600 years.
You’re unlikely to see flower spikes in specimens below 80 centimetres tall, but if you have good soil, they can flower sooner and may even produce multiple spikes. The flower stalks grow several centimetres a day to reach heights of three metres or more.
The flowers have a honey scent and tend to appear in spring to attract bees, butterflies and birds.
3/ Purple Mulla Mullas
The Mulla Mulla is a compact perennial that typically has masses of long-lasting, large conical flower spikes that can grow up to seven centimetres long from winter to summer. These blossoms have a bottlebrush-like appearance that start out silver to mature to a purple-pink colour that contrast beautifully with the silver green, evergreen fleshy leaves.
Mulla Mullas are easy to grow and are both heat and drought tolerant. This makes them perfect for desert, sunny rockery or Mediterranean gardens. It can attract butterflies and bees to your garden and the blossoms make good cut flowers.
4/ Wattle
The Acacia or wattle is a fast-growing plant with lovely yellow flowers. There are more than 1,300 acacia species in the world with approximately 1,000 here in Australia. The wattle is an excellent pollen source for bees and they can provide shelter and a habitat for numerous Australian birds.
While individual acacia species can vary from small shrubs to large trees, they are typically characterised by evergreen, glossy and feathery leaves. The flowers are vibrant yellow appearing in clusters which typically bloom in early spring or winter. The flowers are arranged in fluffy, dense spherical clusters and have a honey-like sweet scent.
Since wattle is primarily native to Australia, it can tolerate dry, poor soils and harsh conditions.
They are nitrogen-fixing plants, which can help to improve soil fertility, but they are often planted as ornamentals in landscaping designs.
5/ Kangaroo Paw
Another popular option for Australian native flowers is Kangaroo Paw or Anigozanthos flavidus. This is an evergreen perennial with interesting flowers sitting on the strap-shaped, slender leaves.
The leafless, long flowering stalks contain clusters of flowers that are typically yellow-green, but can be green, pink, orange or red. The tubular flowers have pointed lobes, curving at the tips with velvety hairs, since the common name of Kangaroo Paws.
Kangaroo paw is an easy to grow perennial for nearly frost free climates and the plant has a natural resistance to insect attacks and disease. The blooms appear across a long season from late spring to autumn attracting nectar feeding birds and insects. The plant should be protected from strong winds, but it is otherwise quite hardy, providing a splash of colour in your garden borders or as cut flowers.
6/ Darling Pea- (Swainsona galegifolia)
Darling pea is native to Queensland and New South Wales. This shrubby perennial has a long flowering season and is easy to grow. It has branches that grow annually to reach heights of approximately one metre each year.
The crown is crowded with new shoots which push the outer ones out to create a spreading shape, particularly if the shrub has plenty of room. If planted in groups, the plants support each other for an even more impressive upright display.
The flower spikes on the long stems are up to 15 centimetres long and they open to pea flowers almost 2.5 centimetres across in various colours from pure white and pinks to mauve and crimson. The flowers are followed by pink tinted pods.
Old flowered branches need to be cut each year or the old wood will become weak and prone to breaking in strong winds.
Darling peas are generally disease and pest free, but they can be vulnerable to caterpillar and aphid attacks. However, you should be aware that this flower is poisonous, so it should be avoided in gardens where pets may nibble the greenery.
7/ Bottle Brush
The bottlebrush is one of the most iconic Australian native flowers. It has red, cylindrical brush shaped flowers that provide shelter and food for a variety of wildlife including lizards, nectar eating birds, insects and flying foxes.
This is a great plant for those who struggle to maintain flowers as they are hardy requiring little care.
One of the most popular bottle brush variants is the crimson bottlebrush or Callistemon citrinus. This has arching branches with lance shaped leaves that begin coppery and mature to a grey-green. When bruised, the leaves release a lemony scent. In frost free areas, the plant produces bright crimson flowers that bloom throughout the year intermittently. These blooms provide plenty of nectar and create an eye catching display for any garden.
8/ Sturt Desert Pea
The Sturt Desert Pea is one of the most famous Australian desert wildflowers. It is found in the arid, inland regions of Australia and is one of the most easily recognisable native plants. This flower thrives in loam or red, sandy soil. It has vibrant red flowers that have a leaf shape with a black centre. These slender tipped flowers are the floral emblem for South Australia.
The Sturt Desert Pea’s formal name, genus swainsona, was named after the English botanist, Isaac Swainson. However, the common name is in honour of Charles Sturt, the British explorer of Australia.
The Desert Pea is a sprawling plant that has stems with the potential to reach two metres in length. It typically blooms June to March, depending on the seasonal rains in the area.
Wrapping Up Australian Native Flowers
There is an amazing variety of Australian native flowers that can provide pops of colour in your garden or in nature. Whether you’re planning your landscaping design or taking a hike, keep an eye out for some of these beautiful native flowers that not only hold aesthetic appeal, but are surprisingly resilient, bred to handle the challenging Australian terrain and climate.