Brisbane’s green thumbs have spoken! The four fragrant front runners to represent Brisbane as the city’s newest floral emblem have now been revealed for public vote.
The shortlist of native blooms include:
- Brisbane Wattle (Acacia fimbriata)
- Brisbane Lily (Proiphys cunninghamii)
- Firewheel Tree (Stenocarpus sinuatus)
- Dwarf Silky Oak (Grevillea banksii)
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner encouraged residents to cast their vote from today until September 12 and be part of making horticultural history.
“Brisbane is a green and sustainable city surrounded by natural beauty and bursting with native flora and fauna, so narrowing down a shortlist was very difficult,” Cr Schrinner said.
“We were blown away by community interest during the stage one consultation, with over 880 resident submissions for Brisbane’s newest floral emblem.
“It’s now up to the public to decide which native flower will join the red poinsettia in Brisbane’s floral emblem bunch.”
Floral emblems traditionally symbolise a city’s identity and provide a sense of connection between residents and their home.
Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the red poinsettia was selected as Brisbane’s floral emblem in 1930 because it grows well in Brisbane’s subtropical climate.
Now almost 100 years later, Cr Schrinner said the new emblem will represent the people living in Brisbane today and will add to Brisbane’s identity for domestic and international visitors.
“Brisbane is already hosting international events that garner thousands of visitors and put our city on show for the world to see,” he said.
“As we prepare for the impact of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games on Brisbane, any symbol that represent our city will be showcased on a world stage, so there’s never been a more important time to stop and smell the native blooms in our own backyard.”
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