TELOPEA. Waratah. Australia is home to a great many plants of the protea family, but none so much like the proteas themselves as these. They are fabulous plants; most gardeners who have seen them would love to grow them. However, they are cranky and challenging. Most are large shrubs, with rather stout, sparsely branched trunks, not unlike those of some of our larger manzanitas. Oblong, usually toothed, thick-textured leaves are loosely set around the stems, maintaining the impression. Large, fat bud-clusters, suggesting those of a rhododendron, develop in fall and winter, rapidly expanding in spring into spectacular pincushions of tubular pink to crimson blossoms. They last for many weeks and make wonderful cut flowers. Sun or light shade, well drained (a must!), acid soils, moderate to occasional watering, and light feeding. Hardiness varies.
speciosissima. New South Wales waratah. A 10' shrub of upright branching habit, with attractive toothed, dark green leaves about 6" long. The 4-inch “pincushions” perch atop an often larger circle of similarly colored bracts, giving them a striking resemblance to some of the proteas. Colors span the full range for the group, including many shades of pink and red. 20oF or less.
truncata. Recently received as seed from our friends the Gillanders in Tasmania, this is a Tasmanian native and reputed to be quite hardy. Though of about the same size as the last, it is more spreading. The 3" flower clusters, which I have not yet seen, are said to be crimson in color. Probably 15oF or less.