Western Australia wildflower bloom best in years: pictures
EACH YEAR – from June onwards – Western Australia’s iconic wildflowers come out to bloom, and this year’s season is one of the best in years.
Curator of the WA Herbarium, Kevin Thiele puts the good season down to strong winter rains along the west coast and parts of the south.
A number of wildflower hotspots can currently be found along WA’s Coral Coast, which stretches from Cervantes to Exmouth. “Areas like Coalseam, Kalbarri and Lesueur are at their peak and are good this season. They’ll be waning very soon though.
“Places further inland like the mulgalands between Wubin and Meekatharra are a bit on the dry side this year, so the wildflowers are a bit patchy there, but it’s better closer to the coast in the north,” he said.
Last year, a dry autumn and a warm winter in the south-west made for a particularly disappointing season. The only area that did well was the Pilbara, according to Kevin.
He added that while visitors may flock to where the carpets of wildflowers and wreath plants can be seen in full bloom, the flowering kwongan in areas like Lesueur National Park, the Stirling Range and Fitzgerald River National Park are a must-see.
“That’s where the diversity is, and where the most extraordinary plants are to be found.”
