01/09/2026
Happy National Wattle Day! Wattle is one of Australia's most iconic native plant groups. The golden wattles are a known familiar sign that spring is here – yet did you know wattle comes in different colours? Victoria is famous for a rare red-flowering wattle, the Scarlet Blaze.
Native wattles are a foundational species that first colonise an area following disturbance, then they set the stage (improving soils and environmental conditions) for later successional plant species to then come in. From providing food and habitat for wildlife to helping support healthy ecosystems, wattles play a valuable role to the health of Victoria's natural environment.
Earlier wattle flowering can signal climate change, with warmer winters causing many species to bloom weeks ahead of their usual late-winter and early-spring timing.
Victoria’s State of the Environment reports have identified that biodiversity remains under pressure across Victoria, reinforcing the importance of protecting and restoring native species and the habitats they depend on.
Learn more about the condition of Victoria's natural environment in the report: www.ces.vic.gov.au/state-of-reports and learn more about National Wattle Day: https://wattleday.asn.au/
