They are one of Australia's most recognisable and loved native flowers, and this spring they have burst into bloom in a nature reserve on the mid-north coast of New South Wales.

Some locals are saying that the display of flannel flowers in the Kattang Nature Reserve, south of Port Macquarie, is the most impressive they have seen in decades.

National Parks and Wildlife Ranger in the Hastings Macleay region, Mandy Smith, said the wildflowers were breathtaking.

"It's just almost like this carpet of wild, white, beautiful flowers, just standing up facing the sun, just a joy, it's wonderful to see," she said.

Locals say they've never seen so many flannel flowers in bloom at the Kattang Nature Reserve on the NSW mid-north coast. ( ABC News: Emma Siossian )

Retired National Parks and Wildlife Ranger, Mike Dodkin, said he'd been monitoring and walking through the reserve for nearly 40 years.

"It's spectacular, it's the best showing of flannel flowers I've seen going back 35, almost 40 years that I recall in this reserve," he said.

The flannel flowerheads are made up of a globe-like cluster of tiny flowers ringed by petal-like bracts. ( ABC News: Emma Siossian )

Fire and drought helps wildflowers bloom

Ms Smith said it was encouraging to see the flannel flowers blooming en masse, attributing this year's proliferation to a controlled burn in the area two years ago.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 4 minutes 31 seconds 4 m 31 s A Big Country: Flannel flowers put on striking display Download 2.1 MB

"It's absolutely fantastic, the reason behind it that is back in May 2016 the NPWS conducted a biodiversity burn down there in the 'flower bowl' in the Kattang Reserve," she said.

Fire, drought, and spring rain have helped the flannel flowers explode into bloom. ( ABC News: Emma Siossian )

"It's great to see the burn has done a great job and we have a profusion of wildflowers.

"Often wildflowers respond really well to bushfires, it stimulates the seed source in the soil.

"The Australian bush has evolved with fire, and we have these incredible beautiful wildflowers to show for it.

"It's just amazing how our wildflowers have adapted to bushfires as well as harsh conditions."

Mr Dodkin said he believed wider factors were also at play, including the drought, which had caused some taller trees to drop leaves.

It's thought fire, combined with the drought and the dying of some overstorey vegetation as trees have matured, has helped the flannel flowers burst into life. ( ABC News Emma Siossian )

"Some of the trees, including tea trees, have over-matured and some have fallen over," he said.

"I think during the drought a lot of them dropped their leaves as a mechanism for survival.

"So light has come in and penetrated down to the ground level as well, and we've had the odd little shower lately.

"I think this time of the year it's just been that right combination — fire, drought, the dying of the over-storey vegetation — and suddenly we are getting all the extra light in," he said.

"The flannel flowers have decided, 'let's do it mate, we're going to survive through this drought, so we are going to flower and produce more seed, and we're on our way.'"

Australians' love of flannel flowers

Flannel flowers grow in the NSW south coast region, extending to Narrabri in the central west and up to south-east Queensland.

They grow in coastal heath, scrub, and dry sclerophyll forest, and will thrive in a range of environments, including shallow sandy soils.

"Spectacular display": Mike Dodkin admires the flannel flowers in the nature reserve. ( ABC News: Emma Siossian )

Ms Smith said the flannel flower was one of the most popular Australian wildflowers.

"Ever since colonial days people have been fascinated with flannel flowers — you often see flannel flowers depicted in artwork," he said.

"I think a lot of Australians really love and enjoy flannel flowers."

Flannel flowers are often depicted in paintings. ( ABC News: Emma Siossian )

As their name suggests, flannel flowers have a soft, woolly texture.

"A lot of people think they are a form of daisy but they are actually part of the carrot family," Mr Dodkin said.

Flannel flowers are abloom in coastal heath in the Kattang Nature Reserve. ( ABC News: Emma Siossian )

"When you look at the actual flower, in the centre, it's actually a cluster of little flowers, supported by these white bracts, so you are probably looking at maybe 50 odd flowers, clustered into that one little centre.

"They are just a magnificent colour, particularly when they are set against the yellow pea flowers, the pink boronias, the tea tree, and banksias.