The crimson-red Telopea truncata: the Tasmanian waratah. While its buds are less dense than NSW’s floral emblem, I found it just as striking in its charm and sheer resilience. 

On our travels we saw tree-like plants soar several metres into the canopy. Spindly shrubs growing out of scree on the slopes of kunanyi. And some specimens were so dense with flowers it was as if a master florist had arranged them.