7 unique and beautiful native Australia wildflowers in Sydney in spring
Australia's spring has passed, but for the rest of the world, spring is just around the corner. Let’s take a peek at Sydney’s spring!
Oh, I used to be the type who eagerly awaited spring—flowers, greenery, and sunbeams that actually feel warm. Sydney spoils me with all of this year-round. I still adore spring. Even though I no longer have to wait for spring to see blooming flowers—since there are species blossoming in every season—, and even though the usual spring flowers I was obsessed with in my previous (non-Aussie) life—magnolias, wisterias, rhododendrons, cherries—pass their peak of blossom later in the winter. Still, Sydney’s spring remains magical.
Australia has its own selection of beautiful spring flowers that don’t exist anywhere else in the world. They often start to bloom in late winter, some reach their peak blossom in early or mid-spring, and some bloom for about half of the year. Well, the more, the better. And you don’t even need to leave Sydney to see an impressive variety of native Australian wildflowers.
In this photo essay I’ll show you my favorites, through my favorite pictures of them:
New South Wales waratah
This vivid red beauty is the queen of Australian wildflowers—and the state floral emblem of New South Wales. Not that easy to find in Sydney, but instantly recognisable once you found one, the vivid red flower heads of the waratahs are in fact a cluster of tightly packed small red flowers, sitting atop a red-coloured base.
Waratahs are truly spring flowers, typically blooming over a 4–6 week period in September and October in the Sydney region, and a bit later in cooler areas like the Blue Mountains.
Where to find New South Wales waratahs in the wild?
On sandstone ridges around Sydney and in nearby mountain ranges. I spotted quite a few of them on the Curra Moors Loop Track in Royal National Park and countless of them along Mount Hay Road in the Blue Mountains. They say you can find them in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, too, but I haven’t managed to spot one there yet.
Spider flowers, or Grevilleas
Grevilleas include around 400 distinct species, most of which are native to Australia. Some are cultivars and hybrids, popular in gardens for their vibrant colors and ability to attract birds. If you spot blooming Grevilleas, keep an eye out for rainbow lorikeets!
Their flowers are small but grow in clusters, which can include a hundred or more individual blooms. They flower throughout most of the year, with the peak flowering period occurring from winter to early spring.
The Sydney region has five endemic species: the Pink Spider Flower, the Grey Spider Flower, the Red Spider Flower, the White Spider Flower and the Green Spider Flower. The most spiderlike spider flower is the Red Spider Flower, with crimson red color and each flower hanging from a stalk like a spider suspended from its web. The Grey Spider Flower often looks pale pink and looks like a flock of flamingos.
Where to find spider flowers in the wild?
Along the walks in Lane Cove National Park, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and on most of the headland walks in Sydney. I especially love the Bairne walking track and the Waratah walking track in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park (where I’ve never spotted a waratah yet, but countless other amazing wildflowers) where I saw countless Red, Pink and Grey Spider flowers. But I’ve never seen a Green Spider Flower yet.
Flannel Flower
The delicate, creamy white flannel flower is endemic to the New South Wales south coast region. Touching the petals (very gently!) feels like touching velvet, and while the flowerheads resemble daisies, they are actually more closely related to carrots than to daisies.
Flannel flowers bloom mainly between September and December. They are the emblem of the Sydney Bush Walkers' club.
Where to find Flannel flowers in the wild?
I saw them on so many coastal walks in Sydney that it’s hard to think of just one. The headland walks of the Northern Beaches and Sydney Harbour are all good choices to spot a good bunch of flannel flowers. I particularly remember seeing an impressive display on the Bangalley Head walking track.
Pink Boronia, or Boronia pinnata
Boronia has approximately 95 species, and all but one of them occur only in Australia. All of them are very pretty, with petals in different shades of pink. The Pink Boronia is one I spotted often this spring, and the delicate four-petalled, pale pink flowers look like jewels on the shrubs. They flower in spring.
Where to find Pink boronias in the wild?
Look for them in woodlands and heaths of eastern New South Wales, usually on sandstone. I saw particularly pretty displays along the Bairne walking track and the Waratah walking track in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, and also in the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden in St Ives.
Mountain Devil
If I’m being more serious (and checking it in Google), I’ll call it Lambertia formosa. It’s endemic to New South Wales, both the coastal and mountainous areas. But Mountain Devil is a good name for this pretty thing that attracts honey eating birds with its sweet nectar. They flower in winter and spring, and the flower cluster consists of red, tubular-shaped flowers.
Where to find Mountain Devils in the wild?
I saw most of the beautiful devils on my walks in the Blue Mountains, but took nice pictures of them on Dobroyd Head in Sydney, too.
Pink Wax Flower
Another pink beauty that I often see blooming along every trail near Sydney from late winter to late spring. The waxy, pale pink, five-petalled flowers look like “the flower” from story books. They are native to eastern Australia, and bees and insects love their nectar and sweet fragrance.
Where to find Pink wax flowers in the wild?
Anywhere in woodlands and heaths in and near Sydney. I took the best pictures along the Bairne walking track and the Waratah walking track in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, but I saw plenty of pretty wax flowers all over Sydney.
Pigface
Also called Karkalla or beach bananas, but popularly known as Pigface, this vibrant pink Australian native flower blooms on the coast in spring. The thick, fleshy, smooth leaves are easy to recognize any time of the year, but the pink display lasts roughly from September to January. Then it produces red-purple berry fruits.
Where to find pigfaces in the wild?
I saw them on the sand dunes behind the beaches in Sydney and the Central Coast of New South Wales. Dee Why Beach, Mona Vale Beach, Turimetta Beach, Palm Beach and Bungan Beaches are just a few where I remember seeing a lovely display of pigfaces.
Oh, and sometimes in city parks, too, with iconic Sydney views:
Now it’s your turn: do you have favorite native Australian wildflowers?