With hope that Lockdown 2.0 ends soon for all Victorians, our region steps into a new season of rebirth, joy and optimism. Spring is here and our National Park bursts with colourful wildflowers that blanket the rugged mountain ranges and vast landscapes. A truly wonderful sight to behold.
From delicate scented orchids bending in the wind to bright Blue Tinsel Lilies bursting with colour and the Grampians Thryptomene covering the bush grounds like snow, our region transforms into the ‘Grampians Garden’.
Home to one third of Victoria’s flora and more than 1,000 species of flowering plants with approximately 20 of these species’ endemic to our region, you’ll be awed by our dazzling array of native flowers.
For thousands of years, the Indigenous Jardwadjali and Djab Wurrung people have lived by six distinct seasons and weather patterns, rather than the common four. These periods are defined by the climatic features of the environment, including the season ‘petyan’, or the ‘season of wildflowers’. This is experienced between late August to mid-November and sees the landscape pop with colour and life.
While the annual Grampians Wildflower Show is postponed due to COVID-19, we have compiled a list of our favourite dazzling flower displays for you to discover when the time is right - The Grampians Way.
Native to south eastern Australia, the Common Heath grows in shrubbery and open forest. It’s a small plant that grows up to one metre tall and attracts honey eating birds. This is Victoria’s floral emblem and is very widely spread across the Grampians. This brightly coloured flower can be seen in shades of red, pink and white; with pink being the official emblem colour. The Common Heath is commonly found on hikes to Hollow Mountain, Mount Abrupt, Mount Zero and Mount Staplyton.
Thryptomene calcynia, known as the Grampians Thryptomene, is a shrub species from the Myrtaceae family. It grows up to two metres high and produces soft pink/white star shaped flowers between July and November. You can find this wildflower covering the national park like snow, with the best viewing spots at Boroka Lookout, Wartook Valley along Roses gap Rd, Ngamadjidj Shelter or the historic Heatherlie Quarry.
Australian native orchids are such delicate tiny wildflowers, many of which are very rare or endangered. There are over 75 different species of orchids that call the Grampians home. From the Flying Duck Orchid, to the Grampians Spider Orchid, Golden Moth Orchid, Ornate Finger Orchid, Hornet Orchid and more. Our orchids are found wide and far through the Grampians National Park, in particular you can view them along the Hamilton Bandicoot Wildlife Walk, or Heatherlie Quarry is a great place for viewing.
Native to the Grampians, the Blue Tinsel Lily is an unusual lily-like plant with stunning star shaped blue to purple flowers with bright yellow contrasting centres. It is the only member of the Calectasia family that is not endemic to Western Australia. This stunning wildflower is also commonly found at the Heatherlie Quarry.
This is just a snapshot of the striking display of wildflowers found in the Grampians. For more insight and self-guided tours of our flora call into one of our many Visitor Information Centres in the region or follow this guide, The Grampians Way.
Before visiting us, we recommend you review your travel plans in line with the latest safety guidelines: www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert. And take a look at our guide to travelling the Grampians responsibly and safely.
