Winter-flowering natives

One of the nicest things about living in our corner of the planet is the change in seasons. While we might bemoan the sudden chill in the air at this time of year, many native trees and shrubs welcome the lower temperatures and have adapted to survive and even bloom during the colder months.

There are many forms of the beautiful Correa.

Indeed, many of our natives actually come into flower at this time of year – correas, epacris, hakeas, lechenaultias, various eucalypts, acacias, banksias, grevilleas and others, can all put on a great floral display during autumn and winter. Who doesn’t enjoy the wonderful sight of the beautiful scarlet, pink or white Common Heath (epacris), in our forests at this time of year?

Common Heath is Victoria's floral emblem

Many native insects, mammals and birds benefit from a nectar and protein source during winter and many plants and animals have evolved to be mutually beneficial to one another at this time of year – the animals have a food source and the plants are pollinated.

Tetratheca or Pink Bells is often seen flowering on roadsides in the bush in winter

Winter flowering plants will often form seed earlier than plants that flower later in the year. In this way, the winter-flowerers get a head start on the others when it comes to germination as the temperature rises and any young seedlings have less competition as they grow.

Many of our Hakea species are happy to bloom profusely at this time of year

Winter flowering eucalypts are vital for the survival of one of Australia’s rarest birds, the critically endangered Swift Parrot. Swift Parrots breed in Tasmania in spring and in late summer they fly to Victoria and parts of SA and NSW to spend winter feeding on blossom, nectar and insects in our flowering eucs.

'Swifties' rely on winter-flowering eucs for their survival

There’s a lot going on in our bush at this time of year.