Telopea ‘Essie’s Gift’

Waratah

A low growing shrub with exotic looking flowers in Spring

Plant Profile:  Telopea ‘Essie’s Gift’

  • Botanical Name: Telopea speciosissima ‘Essie’s Gift’
  • Common Name: Waratah ‘Essie’s Gift’
  • Plant Type: Shrub
  • Mature Size:
  • Height: approximately 1.5-2.5 meters (4.9-8.2 feet)
  • Spread: approximately 1.2-2 meters (3.9-6.6 feet)
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Type: Well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral
  • Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5
  • Bloom Time: Spring to early summer
  • Flower Color: Brilliant red
  • Hardiness Zones:
  • USDA: Zone 9-11
  • RHS: H3 (hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK; -5°C to 1°C or 23°F to 34°F)
  • Native Area: Cultivar derived from an Australian native species
  • Water Requirements: Moderate, requires well-draining soil and does not tolerate waterlogging
  • Maintenance: Low; annual pruning of spent flowers and any dead or damaged wood encourages a more robust plant
  • Fertilizer Needs: Feed with a slow-release fertilizer in spring
  • Propagation: Typically by semi-hardwood cuttings
  • Pests and Diseases: Generally pest-free; watch for root rot in poorly drained soils
  • Other Attributes: Attracts birds and pollinators; makes an excellent cut flower

Telopea ‘Essie’s Gift’ is a recent addition to the garden, I purchased it last summer. The plant requires a soil with a low pH, below 6.5, so I have to grow it in a pot.

I have it in a sheltered location facing west, beside the shipping container and glasshouse. It came through the winter without any harm, while Protea ‘Little Prince’ died. Beside it, I have. Leucadendron in a pot which has also come through the winter with little signs of cold damage.

This Spring I have been watching the slow opening of the two fat buds, as they reveal their exotic beauty.

The plant is a little leggy, so after the flowers have faded, I will prune back the stems that carried the flowers to encourage more side shoots from lower down, this will result in a busier plant, and hope, more flowers next year.

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