Something regal for Christmas Day. From a distance, this extraordinary looking plant resembles a member of the Brassica family: a strange, wild ornamental kale that it is stretching as it goes to seed. However, the leaves are tough and spiky and the plant is a Royal hakea and endemic to Fitzgerald National Park. The fierce nature of the leaves allows for numerous anchoring points and the plants are festooned with cobwebs and home, no doubt, to many interesting creatures. This hakea is multi-coloured all year round and, as the sun shines down, the different colours of the leaves are shown to amazing effect.
That is one truly amazing looking plant. The colours and structures are extraordinary. Love it.
It grows prolifically in parts of the national park. Still looks like a weedy something from the brassica family until you get up close. But colours are stunning!