Wild wonderland of flowers sure to thrill

The wildflower season is starting to show its head in the Great Southern as the region’s diverse offering of native flowers come into bloom.

Flowering typically begins in late August and continues until December, with spider orchids, beaufortia sparsa, and Albany bottlebrush among the hundreds of species on display.

Department of Parks and Wildlife botanist Rob Davis said the season started in the north of the State and slowly headed south.

“Flowering starts in the north in June and July and continues south as time goes on,” he said. “By September, things are starting to flower on the South Coast.”

Mr Davis said the national parks throughout the Great Southern provided myriad wildflowers for nature enthusiasts.

“Mt Lindesay, Torndirrup, Stirling Ranges and Fitzgerald River National Park are all great spots to check out,” he said

“I think the South Coast region is pretty special in that respect — the whole of the South West is in the top 25 in the world for diversity.”

The region also boasts a unique range of wildflowers, according to Mr Davis.

“Eighty per cent of the wildflowers are exclusive to the region,” he said.

“People come from all over the world to see our wildflowers.”