The waratah is so widely spread and known in Australia that Australia was regarded as "the land of the Waratah". The waratah produces a vibrant red flower head in spring. Although some plants are purposefully cultivated for white, pink or yellow flowers, the red ones are most common. Their flowers are rather big, normally measuring up to 15cm across. Its leathery leaves are dark green, arranged alternately and coarsely toothed.

It was once a strong rival of Australian national followers with golden wattle. Some botanists, like R.T. Baker, advocated Waratah because Waratah is the monopoly of Australia, while Wattle also occurs in Africa, America, East and West Indies and the Islands. Again, "the Waratah is probably unsurpassed as a flower for decorative purposes, and it is impossible to so conventionalise it out of recognition a great feature in a national flower." Although the golden wattle was selected as the national flower, it is the state floral emblem of New South Wales.

Nowadays, waratah, together with the wattle, is regarded as an emblem of Australia. A famous poem "Waratah and Wattle" wrote by Henry Lawson(1867 – 1922) are used for the Australians to express their love of their country.

Waratah and Wattle

by Henry Lawson

Though poor and in trouble I wander alone,

With a rebel cockade in my hat;

Though friends may desert me, and kindred disown,

My country will never do that!

You may sing of the Shamrock, the Thistle, and Rose,

Or the three in a bunch if you will;

But I know of a country that gathered all those,

And I love the great land where the Waratah grows,

And the Wattle-bough blooms on the hill.

Australia! Australia! so fair to behold,

While the blue sky is arching above;

The stranger should never have need to be told,

That the Wattle-bloom means that her heart is of gold,

And the Waratah red bloom of love.

Australia! Australia! most beautiful name,

Most kindly and bountiful land;

I would die every death that might save her from shame,

If a black cloud should rise on the strand;

But whatever the quarrel, whoever her foes,

Let them come! Let them come when they will!

Though the struggle be grim, ’tis Australia that knows,

That her children shall fight while the Waratah grows,

And the Wattle blooms out on the hill.