If you are looking for a place to view Australian native wildflowers in Perth, Kings Park wildflowers will surely delight you. Kings Park is one of the world’s largest and most beautiful inner city parks. Two thirds of the 400 hectar park is a bushland with many easy walking trails to admire native flora and fauna. Kings Park is also home to the Western Australian Botanic Garden with over 3000 unique plant species on display. If you are looking for a place to see the wildflowers in Perth, Kings Park should definitely be the first on the list!
Kangaroo Paw
Kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos) are unique and distinct wildflowers. There are 11 species within the group. Red and green kangaroo paw is considered as floral emblem of Western Australian, because it is found naturally only in this state.
Red and green kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos manglesii) – left. Dwarf Green kangaroo paw – top right. Black kangaroo paw – bottom right.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a genus of more than 700 species of flowering trees and shrubs in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae.
Bookleaf Mallee Eucalyptus kruseana (above) is an attractive looking eucalyptus with highly decorative grey foliage, often used by florists due to unusual interesting shape of leaves. Bookleaf Mallee has small yellow flowers, appearing in winter and early spring.
Eucalyptus macrocarpa (above) is one of the most fascinating and spectacular eucalyptuses due to its silvery leaves contrasting bright red and very big flowers. In fact, macrocarpa’s flowers are the largest flowers among all eucalyptuses and can reach up to 10cm in diameter. The buds are particularly interesting in different stages of opening. Flowering from late August to early summer.
Large-fruited Mallee Eucalyptus youngiana (above) has large flowers in red, yellow or cream colour. The gumnuts that the follow the flowers are quite interesting looking. This tree flowers July to December.
Eucalyptus rhodantha Rose Mallee (above) has large flowers up to 7cm in diameter, ranging from pink to brigh red colour, with some rare ones in cream colour. It generally flowers from July to January.
Kingsmill’s Mallee Eucalyptus kingsmillii (above) is another interesting eucalyptus. Its buds are quite distinct and they always occur in groups of 3. The flowers are mostly pinkish but can vary from red to pale yellow. Kingsmill’s Mallee flowers from April to September.
Square-fruited Mallet Eucalyptus brandiana (above) has extraordinarily large green leaves and very large fruits and flowers up to 5 cm across. Red colour four-winged pendulous buds (hence the name Square-Fruited) look particurlaly interesting. Square-fruited Mallet mainly flowers from August to December.
Banksia
Banksia is a genus of around 170 species in the plant family Proteaceae. These Australian wildflowers have characteristic cone like flower heads.
Banksia ashbyi (top left) has a long flowering period – from February to December. A different type of banksia – Banksia blechnifolia (top right) flowers from September to November.
Banksia pilostylis (top left) blooms from October to January. Honeypot Dryandra Banksia nivea (top right) flowers from August till November. The colours of the flowers include cream, yellow, orange, pink, red and brown.
Scarlet banksia Banksia coccinea (top left) is one of the most attractive banksias. It has large bright scarlet flowers, appearing between May and January.
Hooker’s Banksia Banksia hookeriana (above) flowers from April to October.
Grevillea
Grevillea, also known as spider flowers, is a genus of about 360 species of evergreen flowering plants in the family Proteaceae. Grevilleas are mostly shrubs, with the leaves arranged alternately along the branches.
Darwinia
Darwinia, also known as mountain bells, is a genus of about 70 species of evergreen shrubs in the family Myrtaceae. As the common name suggests, Darwinia flowers are in the shape of a bell.
Cranbrook Bell (Darwinia meeboldii) – top left. Darwinia oxylepis (Gillam’s Bell) – top right.
Mogumber Bell Darwinia Carnea – top left. Qualup Bell Pimelea physodes – top right.
Eremophila
Eremophila is a genus of more than 260 species of plants in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. Eremophilas are widespread in the arid areas of Australia. Eremophila has unique tube like flowers with the bottom petals larger than the top petals.
Boronia
Boronia is a genus of about 160 species of flowering plants in the citrus family Rutaceae.
Aniseed boronia (Boronia crenulata) – top left. Boronia heterophylla (Lipstick) – top right.
Verticordia
Verticordia is a genus of more than 100 species of plants, also known as featherflowers, in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. They range in form from small shrubs to trees. Verticordia has unique feather like flowers (hence the name) that appear to be in groups, in various colours, except blue.
Plumed feather flower (Verticordia plumosa) – top left. Verticordia fragrans – top middle. Verticordia etheliana – top right.
Daisy
Daisy (the Asteraceae) is a family of more than 32,000 species, many of which are very bright and colourful.
Above: Schoenia filifolia – first tow left. Albany Daisy (Actinodium cunninghamii) – first tow middle. Pink paper daisy (rhodanthe chlorocephala rosea) – first row right. Native daisy (roebuckiella ciliocarpa) – second row left. Native daisy (roebuckiella ciliocarpa) – second row middle. Pompom Head Cephalipterum – second row right.
and many more…
other flowers (which I couldn’t put into specific groups due to my limited knowledge).
To sum up, if you are a wildflower lover, Kings Park widlflowers will not disappoint you. While end of winter and spring are the prime times to visit, there is always something blooming throughout the whole year. With so much more to see and experience in Kings Park, it is a also a popular picnic and meeting place for locals and tourists alike. More information here.
Disclaimer:
As I am not a wildflower professional and only learning about plants, there are might be errors related to the names. Feel free to comment with any corrections.
