Growing Waratahs

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 100, Issue 5, 16 May 1960, Unnumbered Page

Growing Waratahs

By

F. E. WILKIN,

Plant Quarantine Officer, Department of Agriculture, Invercargill THE glorious red-flowered waratahs are shrubs and small trees of south-east Australian origin. They have pride of place in gardens in every country fortunate enough to have a climate suitable for them. In New Zealand there are many localities well suited to the needs of each of the three species. As all of the species can be grown as medium-sized shrubs, it is possible to grow them in quite small home gardens. ‘W7ARATAHS will grow in many soil ** types, but do particularly well in alluvial soils, especially those of a ■stony type and on soils that resemble their native sandstones. Good drainage is ' a principal need and sunlight, shaded roots, reasonable shelter, and protection from excessive frost are ■also important. Sensitivity to frost varies according to species. The crimson waratah (Telopea .speciosissima) being the most sensitive is suitable for coastal or light frost .areas mainly in the North Island, while the other two species, Gippsland waratah (T. oreades) and Tasmanian waratah (T. truncata) are much more hardy and grow well in many parts •of Southland and Stewart Island. Waratahs do not grow well in shaded positions, though the roots like shade. They respond to good treatment, but not to heavy dressings of fertiliser. .Reasonable dressings of well rotted compost, dried blood, or blood and bone should be beneficial. The heads of waratahs resemble giant crimson Protea flowers to which they are related; indeed, the waratah is probably the most attractive member of the Protea family. The botanical name Telopea is apt, signifying seen from afar, which is especially true when they are in bloom on their native rocky hillsides. Crimson Waratah (T. speciosissima) The crimson waratah T. speciosissima (New South Wales waratah) is the

most magnificent member of the family. Its beauty is so highly regarded in its native New South Wales that it is the emblem for that State. In New Zealand it is generally known as the New South Wales waratah, but crimson waratah is the standard popular name chosen by the American Joint Committee on Horticultural Nomenclature. The great globular crimson flower heads of this species are surrounded by several whorls of equally beautiful crimson bracts. Each bract is up to 3 in. long and is fairly wide at the base and pointed at the tip. These large bracts and the prominent veins and toothed margins of the leaves distinguish this species. The crimson waratah generally grows about 6 or 7 ft high and flowers about the third or fourth year from

planting. Some specimens have been known to reach 10 or 12 ft high. It is more suited to the northern districts, as it is fairly frost tender, especially in the seedling stage, but is often grown successfully in gardens in coastal districts as far south as Wellington. Mature specimens have been seen in bloom at Greytown in the Wairarapa district where 7 degrees of frost has been recorded on an airscreen thermometer a few feet above the ground and 13 degrees of frost on the grass. Plants should be protected when they are small, as the frost is usually much more severe on the ground than

it is in the air 3 or 4 ft above it. In districts where frosts occur young waratahs should be protected with a frame covered on the top and sides with two layers of scrim or hessian, and there should be about an inch of space between layers. This cover should be placed over the plant on winter nights when frost is expected, and removed during the day. None of the material of the frame should be allowed to rest against the foliage, as the frost may strike through and kill the plant. Crimson waratah is used in the cut flower trade and usually commands high prices in the markets. Gippsland Waratah (T. oreades) In the botanical name of the Gippsland waratah T. oreades, oreades means a mountain nymph. This species, which has large, flat, dark crimson blooms, is hardly less beautiful than the better known crimson waratah. The distinctive features are the short hairless bracts an inch or less long and the dark leaves, which contrast well with the colour of the flowers; the leaves lack prominent veins and have uncut edges. Gippsland waratah comes from Victoria. It is hardy and will thrive in areas a little too cold for crimson waratah. It may be kept as a shrub 10 to 12 ft high with an upright form, but may eventually form a tree 40 ft high, with a trunk as much as 2 ft in diameter. The wood is said to be beautifully figured and grained and is used in cabinet making and veneers and for tool handles. A Gippsland waratah seen at Greytown in the Wairarapa was about 9 to 10 ft high and bore hundreds of blooms. Sometimes shrubs of this species are disappointing. This is due to an off-type plant or to unsuitable soil conditions or lack of shelter. Tasmanian Waratah (T. truncata) The thick leaves of Tasmanian waratah (T. truncata) are shorter than in the other kinds of waratah and the short bracts surrounding the flowers are clothed with closely pressed silky hairs. Truncata signifies cut off or shortened and probably refers to the blunt-ended leaves of this species. The species, a native of the Tasmanian highlands, is more hardy than the Australian species. It has smaller flowers than the others, but can be grown in many parts of the South Island. In the garden it can be kept as a shrub 5 to 8 ft high, but may eventually reach 20 ft under exceptionally good conditions. Sometimes this waratah has quite large flowers; occasionally there are white specimens in

Tasmania. It is a summer-flowering type and it flowers as early as November in Southland. Pruning Pruning should be done with care, as cuts into older wood do not callus. By judicious pruning back when cutting flowers and the removal of spent flowers back to a bud it should be possible to maintain these shrubs in reasonable shape. Each year all dead and broken branches should be cut back to laterals with sharp tools. Any cuts over about 4 in. in diameter should be painted. The crimson waratah, in particular, needs careful training from planting, as it is inclined to become leggy and severe cutting back may kill it.

Crimson waratah can be trimmed to a rounded shape, but the Gippsland and Tasmanian species should be trained to conform with their naturally more upright habit. Pests and Their Control Rose scale (Aulacaspis rosae) and waratah scale (Phenacaspis eugeniae) sometimes infest waratahs. These pests are both whitish scales. They can be controlled with summer oil spray 14 per cent dilution in water. To make four gallons of the spray the formula is 4 pint of summer oil to 4 gallons of water.