Telopea Braidwood Brilliant

Telopea Braidwood Brilliant is a dense shrub that shows off brilliant red blooms in Spring. Braidwood Brilliant was developed at the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra and was selected for its hardiness and brilliant flower colour. It is a hardy variety suitable for the home garden and cut flower growers.

Telopea, or Waratah are stunning, bird-attracting Australian natives that do best in semi-shade, but they’ll also cope well in full sun, especially in cooler climates. They are generally frost tolerant, though a late frost can damage their flowers, so keep that in mind when choosing a planting spot. Featuring a strong, upright growth habit, Waratahs also work well as a large hedge or windbreak in the garden. If you're growing them in pots, be sure to use Australian native potting mix, and always fertilise with an Australian native plant fertiliser to keep them healthy.

Waratahs require regular watering, particularly during dry spells, and unlike most members of the Proteaceae family, will cope with a soil rich in organic matter, but it must be well drained as they will not cope with a waterlogged soil. Lightly prune after flowering, or pick all flowers to maintain shape. Apply surface mulch and light dressings of blood & bone each Spring in the garden and use Native slow release fertiliser.