Outback wildflowers of Western Australia
Western Australian wildflowers bloom in their billions after the winter rains and transform the beautifully rugged Golden Outback landscape into a brightly-coloured wonderland. Here, you can picnic on a blanket of pink, yellow and white everlastings stretching as far as the eye can see, and marvel at over 12,000 wildflower species, including the striking wreath leschenaultia.
The season commences in August, with Western Australian wildflowers colouring the north of the region, and finishes in the far south during December. The best way to experience this amazing natural spectacle is to follow one of the region's outback wildflowers trails.
Gasgoyne-Murchison wildflowers
Each year the rust-red plains of the Gascoyne-Murchison are blanketed in soft, velvety green after winter rains, and with the arrival of spring sunshine, they burst into bloom. In the north you’ll find iconic species like the scarlet red sturt desert pea setting the undergrowth ablaze and the royal purple mulla mulla carpeting the roadside.
The magnificent Kennedy Range and Mount Augustus also offer particularly lovely wildflower settings – their rugged, golden outlines are enhanced by clusters of wildflowers at the base. You’ll find species like mulla mulla, native corn flower, eremophila, flannel bush and fields of everlastings.
Further south, fields become blanketed in pink, white and yellow everlastings, delighting photographers and wildflower enthusiasts alike. Other Gasgoyne-Murchison wildflowers are just as impressive. Stop the car and take in the beauty of the wreath flower, purple vetch and red grevilleas. The peak of the season depends on the winter rains, but usually occurs from July to August.
Goldfields wildflowers
The variety of Western Australian wildflowers that carpet the Goldfields in spring is as diverse as the region's landscapes. You can see everlastings stretching to the wide horizon, gaze in awe at the deep purple mulla mulla, see eucalypt trees awash with brilliant colour, marvel at the silvery glow of the smoke bush and admire the varied colours of eremophila.
Enjoy these delicate and intricate flowers on roadsides throughout the Goldfields region, as well as in the extensive network of national parks and conservation reserves. The peak of the season depends on the winter rains, but usually occurs from August to October.
Wheatbelt wildflowers
In spring, the green and golden rolling hills of the Wheatbelt are transformed into lush gardens of Western Australian wildflowers. The region is particularly well-known for its astonishing acacia displays – along bush roads their branches droop with the weight of their golden blooms. Hundreds of unusual yet beautiful wreath flowers also bloom beside the roads, while bushland bursts into life with hakea, grevillea, banksia and orchids. The Wheatbelt wildflower season usually begins in August and continues to October.
Esperance and South Coast wildflowers
The wildflower season finishes with a flurry of vibrant blooms in the bushlands of the Esperance and South Coast regions of Western Australia's Golden outback. This is the home of one of the most bio-diverse areas in the world – Fitzgerald River National Park. Visit from September to November and you’ll soon understand why it has earned this prestigious ranking, as you witness 1,800 beautiful and bizarre flowering plants bursting with colour.
The greens and browns of the coastal heath explode with splashes of pink, yellow, orange and red and the fresh sea air is filled with the fragrance of wildflowers. Look closely at the undergrowth and you’ll see the delicate designs of many orchid species, or stroll through bushland and be dazzled by banksia, leschenaultia and hakea.
To help preserve this pristine environment for future generations, follow the principles of Leave no Trace. Download the 2008 Wildflower Holiday Guide or visit the Wildflowers WA website for more detailed information about Western Australian wildflowers and suggested drive routes.