Austral Blue Bells (Wahlenbergia species)

A delicate wildflower with bright blue bell-shaped blooms. Usually growing up to 45cm tall, it thrives in sandy soils across Cooloola. The flowers open wide like stars during hot summer days and close into a bell shape at night.

Bladderwort (Utricularia lateriflora)

A small swamp plant with tiny purple to mauve flowers. It grows in nutrient-poor wetlands and traps insects in underwater bladders for food.

Bush Iris (Patersonia sericea)

One of the stars of the Noosa Plains spring display. Its blue-purple flowers bloom from late August to October, growing up to 30cm high in rocky and sandy soils.

Chloanthes (Chloanthes parviflora)

A small upright shrub that produces soft mauve flowers during spring and summer.

Dampiera (Dampiera stricta)

Known for its striking deep royal blue flowers, this plant flowers several times throughout the year.

Fringed Lily (Thysanotus tuberosus)

This graceful grassland flower blooms from spring to summer with pale mauve to purple flowers featuring fringed petals.

Goatsfoot (Ipomoea pes-caprae)

A common coastal creeper found on foredunes. It has large leaves shaped like a goat’s hoof and produces large mauve-pink flowers in spring.

Hovea (Hovea acutifolia)

A bushy shrub that grows up to 2.5 metres tall. It produces rich purple pea-shaped flowers from August to October in well-drained sandy forests.

Pig Face (Carpobrotus glaucescens)

A coastal creeper with thick fleshy leaves and soft pink-purple flowers that brighten the foredunes.

Purple Coral Pea (Hardenbergia violacea)

A climbing plant with attractive purple flowers that bloom during August and September in open forest areas.

Sun Orchid (Thelymitra ixiodes)

A brilliant cobalt-blue orchid that flowers from late July. Later blooms become paler and more strongly scented.

Vanilla Lily (Sowerbaea juncea)

A fragrant wildflower that produces clusters of mauve blooms in spring, especially after fire and in damp sandy soils.

Wax Lips (Glossodia minor)

One of the small ground orchids of Cooloola, flowering in shades of blue from early spring and sometimes even in winter.

Boronias

Boronias are known for their pink flowers and four-petalled blooms.

Boronia keysii

A rare species found only around Lake Cootharaba. It was rediscovered in 1972 after not being officially recorded since 1909.

Forest Boronia (Boronia rosmarinifolia)

This species has larger pale pink flowers and grows in open, well-drained forests, especially among banksias. Its leaves release a rosemary-like scent when crushed.

Wallum Boronia (Boronia falcifolia)

An upright shrub growing up to 50cm high. It produces deep rose-pink flowers along the stems and is commonly found in wetter heath areas. Best flowering occurs in spring.

Wide Bay Boronia (Boronia rivularis)

Found only on Fraser Island, near Tin Can Bay, and in the Cooloola region. It grows in shaded creek gullies and can reach up to 5 metres tall. The crushed leaves smell like sarsaparilla.

Trigger plants

Trigger plants belong to the Stylidium family and are famous for their unusual pollination system. Their flowers are “triggered” by insects to help spread pollen.

Grass Trigger Plant (Stylidium graminifolium)

Grows in sandy wallum flats and open eucalyptus forests. Flowers mainly in spring and early summer, especially after bushfires.

Wallum Trigger Plant (Stylidium ornatum)

Found in wallum swamps and bogs. Flower colours range from pale pink to apricot and rose pink.

Sundews

Sundews are insect-eating plants that grow in Cooloola’s low-nutrient wetlands. Their sticky leaves trap insects to gain extra nutrients.

Spoonleaf Sundew (Drosera spathulata)

A low-growing species with bright pink flowers that bloom in October.

Tall Sundew (Drosera auriculata) and Forked Sundew (Drosera binata)

These species have deep red foliage and white flowers.

Orchids and other pink flowers

Hyacinth Orchid (Dipodium punctatum)

A tall orchid growing in eucalyptus forests with rich leaf litter. Its dark pink flowers are spotted with brown markings.

Pinkies (Caladenia carnea)

A small ground orchid common on the Noosa Plain, flowering in winter with delicate pink blooms.

Heath and shrub wildflowers

Dog Rose (Bauera capitata)

A scrambling plant found in moist sandy areas, especially on the Noosa Plain. It produces deep pink flowers from spring through late summer.

Melastome (Melastoma polyanthum)

Also known as Native Lasiandra or Blue Tongue, this shrub grows in swampy areas and flowers from spring to autumn with large pink blooms.

Pink Wax Flower (Eriostemon australasius)

One of Cooloola’s standout wildflowers. This sprawling shrub produces masses of pink star-shaped flowers with a waxy appearance. A well-known location for viewing this plant is along King’s Bore Road near Teewah Creek Bridge.

Silky Spider Flower (Grevillea leiophylla)

A low-growing shrub found throughout the wallum. It produces pink-red spider-like flowers from July to December.

Tea Trees (Leptospermum species)

Tea Trees are flowering shrubs once used as a substitute for Chinese tea by early European explorers. They are recognised by their small five-petalled flowers with greenish centres, which usually bloom during summer.

Leptospermum semibaccatum

A hardy coastal species that grows up to 3 metres high and thrives in the sandy soils of Cooloola and Fraser Island.

Weeping Tea Tree (Leptospermum attenuatum)

A graceful shrub or small tree growing up to 5 metres tall, with papery bark and hanging branches.

Yellow Tea Tree (Leptospermum flavescens)

A shrub reaching up to 4 metres high in damp sandy areas. It has narrow leaves with a light lemon scent.

White and cream flowering shrubs

Phebalium (Phebalium woombye)

A widespread shrub growing up to 2 metres tall. It produces clusters of small white, cream, or pink flowers throughout the year, with peak flowering from August to October. Its leaves are shiny green on top with silvery undersides.

Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpus pinifolius)

A common shrub of coastal heaths and sand dunes. From August to September, it becomes covered in masses of white flowers, creating a spectacular display.

White Beard-Heath (Leucopogon leptospermoides)

A shrub growing up to 2 metres tall, known for its tiny fringed white flowers that appear in early spring.

Native berries and forest shrubs

Midyim (Austromyrtus dulcis)

A small forest shrub with glossy leaves and attractive pink new growth. It flowers from October to January and later produces edible speckled berries with a mild eucalyptus flavour.

Hakeas and other wallum plants

Hakeas (Hakea species)

Two prickly-leaved hakeas grow in the wallum and Noosa Plain areas, producing striking white or cream flowers in spring.

Hakea gibbosa

Recognised by its woody seed pods, which resemble small ears attached to the plant.

Hakea plurinervia

A strong white-flowering shrub found mainly in the western catchment.

Drumsticks (Petrophile shirleyae)

A wallum plant with unusual round flower heads that resemble drumsticks, growing in similar sandy habitats to the hakeas.

Heath flowers

Common Heath (Epacris obtusifolia)

A shrub growing 60–90cm tall in swampy or damp sunny areas. In spring, its stems become covered with rows of small bell-shaped flowers.

Coral Heath (Epacris microphylla)

Growing up to 120cm high, this heath is found in wallum areas near freshwater. It flowers from autumn through to early spring.

Wallum Heath (Epacris pulchella)

A heath species that grows in similar wet wallum habitats to Coral Heath.

Rice flowers and small shrubs

Slender Rice Flower (Pimelea linifolia)

An upright shrub that produces clusters of white or pale pink flowers during winter and spring. It commonly grows in sandy and swampy areas.

Devil’s Rice (Conospermum taxifolium)

A small shrub with clusters of tiny white flowers that may appear almost year-round. Its height makes it stand out above the surrounding grasses.

Baeckeas

Baeckeas flower during Queensland’s summer holiday season and are admired for their masses of small white flowers.

Twiggy Baeckea (Baeckea virgata)

A shrub reaching 3–4 metres tall, flowering from late spring to midsummer.

Weeping Baeckea (Baeckea stenophylla)

A slender shrub up to 3 metres high that produces heavy displays of flowers in late spring and midsummer.

Straggly Baeckea (Baeckea linearis)

A smaller upright shrub growing to about 90cm high, common in sandy wallum flats and flowering in spring.

Orchids and lilies

Winter Caladenia (Caladenia alba)

A woodland ground orchid that flowers from May onwards, producing delicate white blooms.

Milkmaids (Burchardia umbellata)

A striking wildflower with white waxy star-shaped flowers marked with red. It blooms in spring and summer and is common on the Noosa Plain.

White Double Tails (Diuris alba)

A ground orchid flowering from July, recognised by its white flowers often marked with purple in the centre. It grows in open forests and grasslands.

Yellow Double Tail (Diuris aurea)

Guinea Flowers (Hibbertia spp.)

Guinea Flowers are common throughout Cooloola, with more than seven species recorded. They are characterised by their delicate yellow five-petalled flowers.

Twining Guinea Flower (Hibbertia scandens)

The largest of the Guinea Flowers, this climbing species thrives on sand dunes and in forested areas. Its flowers can reach up to 5 cm across and, despite their attractive appearance, have an unpleasant fragrance. Flowering occurs from July to January.

Snowy Guinea Flower (Hibbertia linearis)

A small shrub with spectacular yellow flowers that bloom from August to November.

Frogsmouth or Woolly Waterlily (Philydrum lanuginosum)

A light green plant growing between 90 and 120 cm tall in damp, waterlogged swamps. It has fleshy, lily-like leaves and unusual yellow two-petalled flowers that resemble a frog's mouth.

Cotton Tree (Hibiscus tiliaceus)

A large tree commonly found near watercourses and tidal swamps. It earned its name because Aboriginal people used the fibrous bark to make fishing lines. Pacific Islanders continue to use the bark in the production of tapa cloth. Its bright lemon-yellow flowers, marked with distinctive veins, can be seen from early summer through to late winter.

Golden Everlasting Daisies

Golden Everlasting Daisy (Helichrysum bracteatum)

A favourite of the foredunes, this species produces classic daisy flowers measuring 4–5 cm across. Flowering occurs from summer to early autumn. Although most common on foredunes, it can also be found throughout Cooloola.

Yellow Buttons (Helichrysum semiamplexicaule)

Another member of the daisy family, Yellow Buttons produces clusters of small golden flower heads approximately 2 cm across on stems reaching up to one metre tall. Flowering occurs during December.

Geebungs (Persoonia spp.)

Geebung (Persoonia virgata)

Common throughout Cooloola, this erect shrub grows up to 2 metres tall and has narrow lime-green leaves about 4 cm long. The small yellow flowers nestle in the leaf axils and can easily be mistaken for leaves at first glance. Geebungs produce round, edible green fruits about 2 cm in diameter, which were highly valued by Aboriginal people and gave rise to the plant's common name.

Broad-leaved Geebung (Persoonia cornifolia)

A widespread species throughout Cooloola, distinguished by its broader, pointed leaves. It is less common than P. virgata but still regularly encountered.

Dogwoods

Two main Dogwood species occur throughout Cooloola.

Dogwood (Jacksonia scoparia)

A shrub growing up to 3 metres tall, producing yellow pea-like flowers during late winter and spring. At first glance, it resembles a Casuarina, with its light-coloured, broom-like foliage. It is one of the first plants to colonise exposed sand in active sandblows.

Wallum Dogwood (Jacksonia stackhousii)

Found on sandy wallum flats and dunes, this species grows only a few centimetres high and bears paler yellow flowers than its larger relative.

Prickly Moses (Acacia ulicifolia)

A small, rigid shrub growing between 1 and 2 metres tall. Its angular, prickly leaves live up to the plant's name. Creamy-yellow fluffy flower heads appear during May and June.

Christmas Bells (Blandfordia grandiflora)

One of Cooloola's most recognisable wildflowers, Christmas Bells are common on open plains during summer. Although the species is best known for its red flowers, yellow-flowered forms are frequently encountered in the region.

Yellow Peas 

Among Cooloola's wildflowers, the various yellow peas create some of the most colourful seasonal displays. Many species appear similar at first glance, making identification challenging without careful observation. As collecting wildflowers is prohibited within the National Park, visitors are encouraged to carry field guides and identify plants in their natural habitat.

Wallum Wedge Pea (Gompholobium virgatum)

A highly branched shrub producing abundant golden pea flowers approximately 2 cm across from late winter through spring.

Poor Man's Gold (Gompholobium pinnatum)

Growing no more than 30 cm tall, this species has feathery foliage and deep golden-yellow flowers just over 1 cm long. Although most commonly flowering during summer, blooms may appear at any time of year.

Bitter Pea (Daviesia umbellulata)

Found throughout Cooloola on hillsides and in open eucalypt forests. It flowers profusely during spring. Individual flowers are around 5 mm long, dark reddish-brown at the base with rich golden-yellow margins. The foliage is prickly and has a distinctly bitter taste.

Snowy Parrot Pea (Dilwynia floribunda)

The most widespread Parrot Pea species in Cooloola. Parrot Peas are distinguished by a standard petal that is broader than it is long. This species produces bright yellow flowers up to 8 mm wide. Flowering occurs from late autumn through winter, with peak displays in spring.

Eggs and Bacon (Aotus ericoides)

A twiggy shrub reaching 1.5 metres in height. It flowers profusely from late winter through spring, producing blooms around 8 mm wide with distinctive red markings at the base.

Woolly Aotus (Aotus lanigera)

Distinguished by its hairy stems and leaves that sit close to the branches. Its yellow flowers are slightly larger than those of Aotus ericoides and appear during spring.

Bush Peas (Pultenaea spp.)

The Bush Peas are the final group of yellow pea flowers commonly encountered throughout Cooloola.

Myrtle Bush Pea (Pultenaea myrtoides)

Flowering can occur throughout the year, although spring brings the best displays. In swamps, plants may reach shoulder height, while on windswept headlands they form dense carpets of yellow flowers.

Chaffy Swamp Pea (Pultenaea paleacea)

Produces dense heads of orange-yellow flowers during late winter and early spring. Commonly found in wallum swamps.

Hairy Bush Pea (Pultenaea villosa)

Recognised by its hairy branches and masses of yellow flowers produced during the short spring flowering season.

While green flowers are often overlooked among the more colourful displays of Cooloola, several species produce distinctive green blooms, fruits, or flower heads that contribute to the region's unique botanical diversity.

Wild Hops (Dodonaea triquetra)

A common species throughout Cooloola, particularly on the sandmass and in foredune environments. Wild Hops are best known for their distinctive winged fruits, which resemble the cones of cultivated hops and give the plant its common name. Although typically green, the fruits can vary in colour from pale pink through to almost black as they mature.

Wallum Bottlebrush (Callistemon pachyphyllus)

A slender, upright shrub that generally grows to around shoulder height. It flowers intermittently throughout the year, with peak flowering occurring during spring and autumn, although blooms may appear at any time. The bottlebrush flowers range in colour from green to deep crimson, making this one of Cooloola's more unusual flowering shrubs.

Giant Sedge (Gahnia sieberiana)

Growing up to 2 metres tall, Giant Sedge is the most conspicuous of Cooloola's sedges. It is easily recognised by its large, dark, broom-like flower heads, which stand prominently above the surrounding vegetation.