The royal bluebell, Wahlenbergia gloriosa, is the floral emblem of the Australian Capital Territory.
Native occurrence in the Australian Capital Territory was the main criterion for choosing the floral emblem but other desirable features of the royal bluebell included horticultural merit and design potential, both in naturalistic and stylised representations.
Violet blue flowers
Wahlenbergia gloriosa belongs to the Campanulaceae family. It is a small perennial herb with oblong leaves about 2.5 centimetres long. The leaf margins are conspicuously waved.
The violet blue flowers are up to 2-3 centimetres in diameter and often appear to have a paler centre due to the light blue base of the petals combined with the purple style which ends in two white stigmas. The flowers may be erect or nodding and are carried on long slender stems.
A related species belonging to the Campanulaceae family is the great blue lobelia, also known as the cardinal flower.
Woodland habitat
In the Australian Capital Territory, the royal bluebell can be found in sub-alpine woodland. It is a legally protected plant throughout its occurrence in the wild.
(Source: Australian National Botanic Gardens. Photograph courtesy of Australian Capital Tourism.)
