How an Australian native flower became a symbol of Europe

Known locally as "mimosa" the flower has a deep connection to the continent.

University of Melbourne senior researcher Greg Moore said Europeans have been "well aware" of the wattle variant since colonial times.

"At one stage they were of economic significance," Dr Moore said.

"So it's not surprising that people in other parts of the world have been attracted to them."

As well as producing a well known flower, bark from the silver wattle was also used as a component in tanning leather.

It is believed the wattle was brought to France in the 19th century by French botanist and cartographer Nicolas Baudin after sailing around Australia.

The wattle was then given as a gift for Napoleon's wife, Josephine Bonaparte, and planted in her gardens to be cultivated through the south of France by wealthy aristocrats.

The flower remains a popular variant in French gardens and throughout the French countryside.

Dr Moore said the flower has become so ingrained in the European culture that it's rarely acknowledged as a foreign species.

"I don't think they sort of acknowledge the origin at all really," he said.

"I don't think they think about them as necessarily coming from Australia for the most part."

Mandelieu-la-Napoule in France, the self-proclaimed 'Capital of Mimosa' even has a yearly festival celebrating the flower.

Mimosa flowers also grow in areas of Spain and Italy where it has become an important symbol.

Mimosa is a longstanding floral symbol of International women's day in Italy.

"The thing about wattles is their flowers are really quite magnificent as you know, but they can be very, very tough, very hardy." Dr Moore said.

Italians believe it to symbolise the qualities of women.

Traditionally men give the flower to women in their life as a token of love, appreciation and solidarity.

The origins of the use of wattle as a symbol was proposed by Italian women's rights activist Teresa Mattei.

Italy first officially celebrated International Women's day in 1946, a year after WW2 ended.

Politicians at the time suggested the violet as a symbol of the holiday, however due to the flowers expense at a time when the country was still recovering economically, it was rejected.

Comparatively, the mimosa was a much cheaper flower that was easier to find.