Australian Native Flowers and Their Meanings: A Florist's Guide

Australian native flowers are flowers that grow naturally in Australia, such as the waratah, banksia, kangaroo paw, golden wattle, eucalyptus and waxflower. Many carry meanings: the waratah stands for boldness, the banksia for new beginnings, kangaroo paw for individuality and golden wattle, the national flower, for unity and Australian pride. This guide explains the best-known natives, what they mean, and how to choose native flowers as a gift.

Australian native flowers and their meanings

Flower meanings come from tradition, history and the way a plant grows, rather than from any official list. These are the associations florists and gift-givers most often use for Australian natives, plus the protea-family flowers that usually appear alongside them:

Flower	Often associated with
Waratah	Boldness, standing out
Banksia	New beginnings, resilience
Kangaroo paw	Individuality, uniqueness
Golden wattle	Welcome, unity, Australian pride
Eucalyptus (gum)	Protection, healing
Waxflower	Lasting love
Strawflower (everlasting daisy)	Lasting memories
Thryptomene	Delicacy, gentleness
Protea	Change, courage
Leucadendron and pincushion	Warmth, cheer

Waratah meaning

Boldness, standing out. Big crimson flower heads. Its botanical name, Telopea, comes from Greek for "seen from afar". NSW floral emblem.

Banksia meaning

New beginnings, resilience. Cone-like flower spikes. Many banksias release their seed after bushfire, so they are linked with renewal. Named after botanist Joseph Banks.

Kangaroo paw meaning

Individuality, uniqueness. Velvety, paw-shaped flowers in red, green, yellow or orange. Native to Western Australia, and the red and green kangaroo paw is the WA emblem.

Golden wattle meaning

Welcome, unity, Australian pride. Fluffy golden balls of flowers. The national floral emblem, celebrated on National Wattle Day, 1 September.

Eucalyptus (gum) meaning

Protection, healing. Silvery, scented leaves and gumnuts. A favourite foliage in native bouquets.

Waxflower meaning

Lasting love. Small, waxy, star-shaped flowers in white, pink and purple, native to Western Australia. Known for lasting well in the vase.

Strawflower (everlasting daisy) meaning

Lasting memories. Papery petals in bright colours. Holds its colour when dried, hence the name everlasting.

Thryptomene meaning

Delicacy, gentleness. Fine stems covered in tiny white or pink flowers, used to soften native arrangements.

Protea meaning

Change, courage. South African, not Australian, but from the same plant family as banksias and waratahs. Named after Proteus, the Greek god who could change his shape.

Leucadendron and pincushion meaning

Warmth, cheer. Also South African members of the protea family, often mixed with Australian natives for colour and texture.

Are proteas Australian native flowers?

Not quite. Proteas, leucadendrons and pincushions are South African. They belong to the Proteaceae family, the same plant family as Australia's banksias, waratahs and grevilleas, so they share the same bold shapes and sturdy stems. That's why florists often combine them with Australian natives, and why a "native bouquet" usually means natives and their protea cousins together.

Australia's floral emblems

Every state and territory has its own floral emblem, and the golden wattle represents the whole country. The green and gold of the wattle is also behind Australia's national sporting colours.

Australia	Golden wattle
Victoria	Common heath
New South Wales	Waratah
Queensland	Cooktown orchid
Western Australia	Red and green kangaroo paw
South Australia	Sturt's desert pea
Tasmania	Tasmanian blue gum
Australian Capital Territory	Royal bluebell
Northern Territory	Sturt's desert rose

Choosing native flowers as a gift

Because of their meanings and their long life, natives suit many occasions:

• Sympathy: banksia for renewal and eucalyptus for comfort make a quiet, meaningful arrangement. See our sympathy flowers.
• Birthdays and congratulations: bright kangaroo paw, waratah and strawflowers feel celebratory. See our birthday flowers.
• New home or a thank-you: a long-lasting native bouquet keeps looking good for days.
• Someone overseas or new to Australia: natives are a way of sharing something distinctly Australian.

Our native bouquets are made with the natives in season that week. Depending on the time of year, they might include proteas, leucadendrons, banksias, waratahs, pincushions, kangaroo paw, thryptomene or strawflowers. For more on gifting natives, read our guide to gifting native flowers in Melbourne.

How long do native flowers last?

Natives last well in the vase. Trim the stems, use clean water, change it every couple of days and keep the vase out of direct sun. Many natives also dry well: banksias, strawflowers, eucalyptus and proteas can be hung upside down somewhere cool and dry, then kept as a dried arrangement.

Native flower delivery in Melbourne

Order by 12pm Monday to Friday or 9am Saturday and we deliver native flowers the same day across Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula, to more than 430 suburbs. Delivery starts from $24.95, and every order comes with your message printed on a card. See all our native flowers.

Native flower questions

What are Australian native flowers?

Australian native flowers are plants that grow naturally in Australia, such as waratahs, banksias, kangaroo paw, wattle, eucalyptus, waxflower and strawflowers. They are known for bold shapes, rich textures and long vase life.

What do Australian native flowers mean?

Each has its own associations: the waratah stands for boldness, the banksia for new beginnings and resilience, kangaroo paw for individuality, golden wattle for unity and Australian pride, and eucalyptus for protection and healing.

What is Australia's national flower?

The golden wattle is Australia's national floral emblem, and National Wattle Day is celebrated on 1 September. Victoria's floral emblem is the common heath.

Are proteas Australian native flowers?

No. Proteas, leucadendrons and pincushions come from South Africa. They belong to the same plant family as banksias and waratahs, which is why florists often mix them with Australian natives.

Do native flowers last long?

Natives last well in the vase, which makes them a lovely gift. Many, such as banksias, strawflowers and eucalyptus, also dry well, so they can be kept after the fresh arrangement has finished.

Can I get native flowers delivered in Melbourne today?

Yes. Order by 12pm Monday to Friday or 9am on Saturday for same day delivery across Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. Our native bouquets are made with the natives in season that week.