Category: Native botanicals

  • Gifts featuring wattle, waratah and banksia: a guide to Australia’s showiest flowers

    Gifts featuring wattle, waratah and banksia: a guide to Australia’s showiest flowers

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    Some flowers just say “Australia” before anyone reads the card. A sprig of golden wattle. A big red waratah. A banksia cone that looks like it was designed by someone with a sense of humour. Put any of the three on a tea towel, a print or a mug and you’ve got a gift that feels local without a single kangaroo in sight.

    This guide gives you a quick, honest note on what each flower stands for, then the kinds of gifts that show them off best, and how to tell a thoughtful design from a cheap one.

    How we pick

    • Kinds of gift, not invented products. We describe types of gifts and what to look for. We don’t name a product unless we’ve checked it exists, and we haven’t named any here yet.
    • Facts from botanic gardens and governments. Flower facts come from the Australian National Botanic Gardens, the NSW Government and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. We link each one.
    • Meanings kept brief. Flower symbolism is a big topic, and much of it is tradition rather than fact. For more on flower meanings, our friends at Dozen Out of Roses cover the subject in depth.
    • Original designs only. We steer you towards original artwork. Avoid anything that copies well-known children’s book characters or uses “Aboriginal-style” motifs that aren’t made or licensed by Aboriginal artists.
    • No prices. Check the seller.

    The three flowers, briefly

    Wattle

    The golden wattle is the national flower. In the words of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, “Australia’s national floral emblem is the golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha Benth).” Those fluffy golden flowers are a sure sign that spring has arrived.

    What it says as a gift: home, spring, and a bit of national pride. It’s a natural choice for an expat, a new citizen or anyone who’s just moved into their first place.

    Waratah

    The waratah is the big red one. It’s the floral emblem of New South Wales, and the Australian National Botanic Gardens notes that it was proclaimed the official floral emblem of NSW on 24 October 1962. Even the botanical name is a compliment: the same ANBG page explains that Telopea means “seen from afar”, and that speciosissima is the superlative of the Latin adjective speciosus, meaning beautiful or handsome.

    What it says as a gift: bold, striking, a bit of drama. It’s a good choice for someone from Sydney or anywhere in NSW, or anyone who likes their colours loud.

    Good to know: if you want cut waratahs, buy them from a florist or grower rather than picking them from the bush.

    Banksia

    Banksias are the shrubs and trees with the bottlebrush-shaped flower spikes that turn into woody, knobbly cones. The genus is named after Sir Joseph Banks. The Australian National Botanic Gardens notes he collected the first specimens of the genus on Captain Cook’s voyage in 1770.

    Banksias are a particular point of pride over here in the West. According to the Australian National Botanic Gardens, south-western Australia contains the greatest diversity of banksias, with 60 species recorded.

    What it says as a gift: quirky, earthy and very Australian. It suits the gardener, the bushwalker, or someone from WA.

    Gift ideas that show them off

    Botanical prints and cards

    A framed botanical print is a classic for good reason. Many old botanical illustrations of Australian plants are now out of copyright, and some printmakers sell reproductions. Modern illustrators also draw these flowers in their own styles.

    What to look for: the artist’s name, the paper and print method (giclée, screen print, letterpress), and, for reproductions of old illustrations, where the original came from. A print that names its artist and source is a good sign.

    Tea towels, linen and homewares

    Tea towels are the ultimate lightweight gift: easy to post, hard to break and actually useful. Wattle, waratah and banksia designs also turn up on napkins, cushion covers and aprons.

    What to look for: the fabric (linen, cotton or a blend), where it was printed, and an original design credited to a named designer. If a listing says “Australian made”, check that the seller says so clearly, and that it covers the product itself, not just the design.

    Ceramics and glassware

    Mugs, small dishes, vases and tiles painted or printed with native flowers make good gifts for people who already have everything.

    What to look for: handmade or small-batch pieces from a named maker, and clear care instructions (dishwasher and microwave safe or not).

    Jewellery

    Native flowers show up in enamel pins, earrings, pendants and brooches. A tiny wattle sprig brooch or a waratah enamel pin is easy to post and easy to wear.

    What to look for: the metal used, whether the piece is made by the seller or bought in, and a returns policy in case it’s not quite right.

    Banksia pods and turned pieces

    Some makers also work with the woody cones of banksias, so it’s worth asking a maker what they offer. For more on timber gifts, see our guide to handmade wooden gifts from Australian timber.

    What to look for: a named maker, the finish used, and whether the piece is suitable for posting overseas (see below).

    Candles, soap and scent

    Native flowers turn up on labels and packaging even when the scent is something else entirely. If the native ingredient matters to the person, read the ingredients rather than the picture. For more on brands that use native botanicals, see our guide to Australian skincare brands with native botanicals.

    Something to grow

    For the gardener, a native plant is a gift that keeps going for years. Ask a local nursery which wattles, waratahs or banksias suit the person’s climate and soil, as each grows best in particular conditions.

    Wattleseed to eat

    Wattle isn’t only pretty. Roasted wattleseed is a baking and coffee-style flavour, and our guide to native-flavour food gifts explains what it tastes like and how to pick a brand.

    Choosing a design that’s done right

    1. Original artwork, credited. Look for a named artist or designer. If a design looks suspiciously like a famous artwork or a children’s book character, give it a miss.
    2. No borrowed culture. Avoid products that use “dot-style” or other Aboriginal art styles unless they’re made or licensed by Aboriginal artists. Our guide to buying First Nations art and gifts ethically explains how to check.
    3. Accurate flowers. A good botanical design gets the flower right. If the “waratah” looks more like a rose, the designer probably wasn’t working from the real thing.
    4. “Australian made” backed up. Only take an “Australian made” claim at face value when the seller states it clearly. Printed in Australia, designed in Australia and made in Australia are three different things.
    5. Practical details. Size, care instructions, materials and returns. The boring stuff is what separates a gift that gets used from one that gets regifted.

    Sending botanical gifts overseas

    Printed, woven or ceramic gifts generally travel well. Anything made from real plant material, such as dried flowers, banksia pods or seeds, is a different story. Many countries control plant products at the border. New Zealand Customs, for example, lists “plant and animal products, including food and accessories” among the things that need permission, as explained on its receiving items from overseas page.

    So for overseas family, the safe bet is a print, a tea towel, a card or jewellery. Check our Christmas gifts for Aussie expats and the Australia Post Christmas cut-off dates 2026 before you post.

    A few pairings

    • For the expat: a wattle tea towel and a jar of roasted wattleseed.
    • For the Sydneysider: a waratah print and a matching card.
    • For the West Aussie: a turned banksia pod piece and a banksia-print tea towel.
    • For the gardener: a native plant from a local nursery and a field guide to Australian wildflowers.
    • For a hamper: add a botanical tea towel to wrap the whole thing. See Australian Christmas hampers compared.

    More from Gumnutly

    Written by our editors. Flower facts are from the linked official and botanic garden sources. Last checked: 1 November 2026.

  • Australian skincare brands with native botanicals: Kakadu plum, lemon myrtle, quandong and more

    Australian skincare brands with native botanicals: Kakadu plum, lemon myrtle, quandong and more

    Heads up: Gumnutly is reader-supported. Some links on this page are, or may become, affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. How we make money

    A hand wash that smells of lemon myrtle. A body lotion with desert lime on the label. A serum built around quandong. Native botanicals have gone from bush pantry to bathroom shelf, and they make a lovely gift for anyone who misses the smell of home.

    This guide does something a bit unusual for a skincare article. It doesn’t tell you what any of these products will do for your skin. We’ll leave that to the brands and to health professionals. Instead, it explains where each native ingredient comes from, which Australian brands use them, and what to check before you buy one as a gift.

    How we pick

    • Ingredients and origin only. We describe what each plant is, where it grows and where each brand says it’s from. We make no claims about what any product does for skin, hair or health, and we don’t repeat the brands’ own claims.
    • Brands’ own words, linked. Every brand detail comes from the brand’s own website, quoted and linked. We haven’t tried, tested or reviewed any of these products.
    • No Indigenous-owned claims unless verified. We haven’t verified any of the brands below as Aboriginal- or Torres Strait Islander-owned, so we don’t describe them that way. The section on who benefits explains how to check.
    • “Australian made” only where the brand says so. We link that claim when we use it.
    • No prices. Check the brand’s site.

    The native ingredients

    Kakadu plum

    Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana) is a tree of the tropical north.

    A Victorian Traditional Owner strategy reported by Food & Drink Business notes that wild harvest remains the dominant source of Kakadu plum. That makes who harvests it, and on whose Country, a fair question to ask. Our guide to native-flavour food gifts covers the same plant in the kitchen, and the same ownership checks apply.

    Lemon myrtle

    Lemon myrtle is best known for the lemony scent and flavour of its leaves. One supplier of dried leaves describes its flavour as “vibrant, refreshing and citrusy” with “delicate hints of menthol”. In body care, it usually turns up as a scent in hand washes, soaps and lotions.

    Quandong

    Quandong (Santalum acuminatum) is a native fruit. The Australian National Botanic Gardens notes how variable it is, forming anything from a one-metre-high shrub to a six-metre-high tree. In skincare ingredient lists, look for “Santalum acuminatum fruit extract”.

    Desert lime, wild rosella and the rest

    These three are the headliners, but brands also use desert lime, Davidson plum, wild rosella, flannel flower, boronia and others. If the plant matters to the person, look for a brand that tells you where it sourced it.

    Brands that use native botanicals

    These are Australian brands whose own websites put native botanicals front and centre. They’re listed in no particular order, and listing isn’t an endorsement.

    Leif

    Leif makes hand, body and hair care, and its products are named for native plants.

    • Native ingredients in the range: the brand’s hand collection lists a Kakadu plum product (check the page for the current range), and its body lotion collection includes a Desert Lime Body Lotion.
    • Good gift for: someone who’d like a hand wash and lotion pair for the kitchen or bathroom.

    See Leif

    Koala Eco

    Koala Eco makes hand washes, cleaners and room sprays scented with essential oils. Its FAQ says its Australian products are “made locally using Australian essential oils”.

    • Good gift for: the home-proud. A hand wash or room spray is an easy, practical gift.

    See Koala Eco

    Ere Perez

    Ere Perez is a natural cosmetics brand whose range includes a Quandong Green Booster Serum. If ownership or cruelty-free certification matters to the person you’re buying for, check the brand’s own site for its current details.

    • Good gift for: the person who reads ingredient lists, and likes their skincare to have a story.

    See Ere Perez

    Bosisto’s

    Bosisto’s is better known for eucalyptus oil than skincare, but it has a long history with native plants. Its own story page traces the business back to 1852 and Australia’s native eucalypts.

    • Good gift for: someone who’d love a classic Aussie brand in the bathroom cabinet. Check the brand’s site for its current body-care range.

    See Bosisto’s

    Who benefits? The question to ask

    Native botanicals come from someone’s Country, and the industry has a long way to go on fairness. For the bush food industry, the University of Sydney estimated it was worth $81.5 million in 2019–20, according to SBS News, and in the same story Koori chef Chris Jordan says less than 3 per cent of it is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned.

    Before you buy, ask:

    1. Who owns the brand? If a brand says it’s Indigenous-owned, check for a clear statement and look it up. SBS Food points to Supply Nation and Trading Blak, among others, for finding Aboriginal businesses.
    2. Where does the ingredient come from? A good brand names the plant, the region and its supplier. For wild-harvested plants such as Kakadu plum, ask who harvests it and how they benefit.
    3. Is the culture being borrowed? Be wary of packaging that uses Aboriginal-style art without naming a licensed artist. Our guide to buying First Nations art and gifts ethically explains what to look for.

    Before you give skincare as a gift

    Skincare is personal, so a bit of care goes a long way.

    • Ask about allergies and sensitivities first. Product Safety Australia’s cosmetic ingredients labelling guide includes advice for people who have sensitive skin or are prone to allergies, so it’s worth a read. If you’re not sure about the person’s skin, choose a different gift.
    • Read the full ingredient list, not just the botanical on the front. The native plant may be one ingredient among many, and fragrance can come from several sources.
    • Play it safe with a scent they already like. If they love lemon, lemon myrtle is a good bet. If they don’t like strong scents, look for a lightly scented or unscented option, or pick a different gift.
    • Keep the receipt. Check the returns policy, including whether opened skincare can go back.

    Sending skincare overseas

    Liquids, creams and aerosols can be tricky to post, and some countries control plant products at the border. New Zealand Customs, for example, lists “plant and animal products, including food and accessories” among items that need permission on its receiving items from overseas page. Check the Australia Post guide for your destination, pack liquids carefully, and post early: our Australia Post Christmas cut-off dates 2026 guide has the dates. A bar of soap or a solid balm can be simpler to pack than a bottle.

    Gift pairings

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    Written by our editors. No health, skin-benefit or medical claims are made or implied. Brand details are from the brands’ own websites. Last checked: 1 November 2026.