When is wildflower season in Western Australia?
Western Australia's wildflower season runs from late July to November, and it moves south as it goes. The Mid West and the north flower first, from late July. The Wheatbelt follows, then the Great Southern and the South West, right through to November. John Perkins runs his guided wildflower tours from Perth from mid-August to mid-October to follow the bloom. The exact timing changes every year with the rain: after a wet winter, everlastings carpet the ground around Binnu, Coalseam and Pindar. Some flowers grow in only one place. The wreath flower grows on bare red sand around Mullewa, Morawa, Perenjori and Pindar. The Lesueur southern cross is found only around Mt Lesueur. The Queen of Sheba orchid grows near Bremer Bay, and opens only when the sun is out.
What flowers when? Month by month
| Month | Where the flowers are | John's tour |
|---|---|---|
| Late July | The Mid West and the north start first. The wild rose opens on the Kalbarri cliffs, and blue leschenaultia shows on the Wheatbelt gravel. | No tour this month |
| August | The Mid West is flowering: wreath flowers, everlastings, smokebush, red pokers and both kangaroo paws. Orchids open in the bush from Perth south. | Queen of Sheba Tour, mid-August |
| September | The Mid West carries on and the Wheatbelt follows. Spider orchids, enamel orchids and banksias in the South West. | Very Special Wreath Flower Tour, early September; Walpole Banksia Tour, late September |
| October | The Great Southern and the south coast: verticordias, royal hakea, and pink coral gum out in the Goldfields. | Verticordia and Royal Hakea Tour, mid-October |
| November | The last of the season in the Great Southern and South West: yellow featherflower and red and green kangaroo paw. | No tour this month |
These months are a guide. The flowers move every year with the rain, and John moves with them.
Where to see them, region by region
Mid West
Mullewa, Morawa, Perenjori, Pindar, Mt Lesueur and Kalbarri. The first region to flower, and the home of the wreath flower.
- Wreath flower Lechenaultia macrantha
August to October · Bare red sand on the verges around Mullewa, Morawa, Perenjori and Pindar.
Tours: Very Special Wreath Flower Tour - Drummondii everlastings Cephalipterum drummondii
August to September · Carpets around Binnu, Coalseam and Pindar after a wet winter.
Tours: Very Special Wreath Flower Tour - Black kangaroo paw Macropidia fuliginosa
August to October · Gravel rises in Mt Lesueur National Park, near Badgingarra.
Tours: Very Special Wreath Flower Tour - Lesueur southern cross Xanthosia rotundifolia
August to October · Found only around Mt Lesueur. John checks on it on the way north.
Tours: Very Special Wreath Flower Tour - Smokebush Conospermum spp.
August to October · A blue-white haze across the sandplain around Mt Lesueur and Eneabba.
Tours: Very Special Wreath Flower Tour - Red poker Hakea bucculenta
August to October · Sandplains between Geraldton and Kalbarri.
Tours: Very Special Wreath Flower Tour - Native foxglove Pityrodia terminalis
August to October · Red sand north of Mullewa.
Tours: Very Special Wreath Flower Tour - Wild rose Diplolaena grandiflora
July to October · The coastal cliffs at Kalbarri.
Tours: Very Special Wreath Flower Tour - Cowslip orchid Caladenia flava
August to October · Bush tracks almost everywhere south of Geraldton.
Tours: most wildflower tours - Red and green kangaroo paw Anigozanthos manglesii
August to November · Western Australia's floral emblem, on sandy verges north of Perth.
Tours: Very Special Wreath Flower Tour
Wheatbelt
The farming country inland from Perth, out towards Wave Rock and Hyden. It flowers after the Mid West.
- Blue leschenaultia Lechenaultia biloba
July to November · A startling blue on gravelly ground through the Wheatbelt.
Tours: most wildflower tours - Scarlet honey myrtle Melaleuca fulgens
August to October · Roadside gravel in the northern Wheatbelt.
Tours: Very Special Wreath Flower Tour - Yellow featherflower Verticordia chrysantha
September to November · Sandplain heath around Eneabba and out towards Hyden.
Tours: Verticordia and Royal Hakea Tour - Spider orchids Caladenia spp.
August to October · Under wandoo and in sandy heath, thirty metres from the road.
Tours: most wildflower tours
Great Southern and the south coast
Bremer Bay, Fitzgerald River National Park, Esperance and the Porongurups. The later part of the season.
- Queen of Sheba orchid Thelymitra variegata
August to September · Near Bremer Bay, and only when the sun is out.
Tours: Queen of Sheba Tour - Royal hakea Hakea victoria
all year · The western end of Fitzgerald River National Park.
Tours: Queen of Sheba Tour and Verticordia and Royal Hakea Tour
South West
Margaret River, Pemberton, Walpole and Albany: karri forest and coastal heath.
- Purple enamel orchid Elythranthera brunonis
August to October · Heathland from Perth down to Albany.
Tours: Walpole Banksia Tour - Banksias Banksia spp.
all year · Karri country and coastal heath from Yallingup to Albany.
Tours: Walpole Banksia Tour
Goldfields
Kalgoorlie and Norseman, east of the Wheatbelt.
- Pink coral gum Eucalyptus torquata
September to December · Goldfields woodland, and planted along Wheatbelt streets.
Tours: Verticordia and Royal Hakea Tour
How can I see them with John?
John's four wildflower tours each follow one part of the season, from four to seven days, starting and finishing in Perth. Every tour departs whatever the numbers, even with one guest. See the wildflower tours, the photos from past tours, or ring John on 0437 377 528 to ask what is flowering now.
