 "Telopea speciosissima" is one of five species from southeastern Australia which make up the genus "Telopea".Its closest relative is the very similar Gibraltar Range waratah ("T. aspera") from northern New South Wales, which was only recognised as a separate species in 1995, having previously been considered an unusual northern population of "T. speciosissima".The genus is classified in the subtribe Embothriinae of the Proteaceae, along with the tree waratahs ("Alloxylon") from eastern Australia and New Caledonia, and "Oreocallis" and the Chilean firetree ("Embothrium coccineum") from South America.