NSW Christmas bush

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; the strongest red display usually develops in good sun. Shelter from cold winds and exposed coastal conditions.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply during dry spells, especially while young and during flowering.

Soil

Acidic, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Avoid limestone soils, heavy waterlogged clay and strongly alkaline irrigation water.

Height

10-25 ft (3-7.5 m), occasionally taller in favourable conditions

Spread

6-15 ft (1.8-4.5 m)

Flowers

Small white flowers in late spring to early summer, followed by enlarged pink to red sepals lasting through summer. In Australia, the coloured display commonly peaks around December.

Foliage

Evergreen. Glossy green leaves divided into three narrow, toothed leaflets; new growth is often bronze or reddish.

Growth

Moderate with adequate moisture; slower in cool climates or poor soil.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   7 ft (2.1 m)

3. After 2 years

   7 ft (2.3 m)

4. After 3 years

   8 ft (2.4 m)

5. After 5 years

   9 ft (2.6 m)

About 26 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

Australia

Growth rate

Slow

• Water deeply through dry weather; do not let newly planted specimens dry out.
• Apply an organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed lightly in spring with a low-phosphorus fertiliser suitable for Australian native plants.
• Protect young plants from frost and cold, drying winds.
• In colder regions, grow in a large container of acidic potting mix and overwinter in a bright, frost-free place.

Pruning. Lightly shorten shoots after the coloured sepals fade to maintain a bushy shape. Establish the main framework while young and avoid routine hard cutting into old, bare wood.

Spring

Plant after frost risk has passed, water thoroughly and mulch.

Spring

Apply a light feed of low-phosphorus fertiliser if growth is weak.

Late spring

Maintain steady moisture as flower buds and flowers develop.

Summer

Water during dry spells and enjoy the coloured sepals; cut a few stems for indoor arrangements if wanted.

Late summer

Lightly prune once the coloured display has finished.

Autumn

Move container plants under cover before cold nights in frost-prone areas.

Winter

Protect young outdoor plants during frosts; keep sheltered container plants slightly moist rather than wet.

• Use as a small specimen tree beside a lawn or terrace, where the summer colour can be seen closely.
• Plant in a loose screen with other acid-soil shrubs, allowing room for its natural branching.
• Combine with lomandra and native ferns in a sheltered Australian woodland-style planting.
• Grow in a large container in a sheltered courtyard where winter protection is practical.

Garden styles it suits: Australian native, Woodland, Coastal, Modern courtyard, Wildlife garden and Traditional.

Plant it with: Lomandra, Bird's nest fern, Native violet, Camellia and Azalea.

Wildlife: The small flowers attract bees and other insects. Dense foliage provides shelter for small birds.

• Yellow leaves with green veins often indicate alkaline soil or water: test the soil, address the pH problem and use an appropriate chelated iron treatment if needed.
• Root rot can develop in persistently wet soil: improve drainage, avoid standing water and replace badly affected plants.
• Scale insects may cause sticky honeydew and sooty mould: inspect stems and leaf undersides, encourage predators and use horticultural oil according to the label if necessary.
• Drought and hot, drying winds can scorch leaves or spoil the coloured display: water deeply, maintain mulch and provide shelter.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, but reliable species-specific safety information is limited. Do not treat the leaves, flowers or fruits as edible.

• Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum)

  A related tree with simple leaves rather than leaves divided into three leaflets; it lacks the conspicuous red summer display.

• Victorian Christmas bush (Prostanthera lasianthos)

  Has opposite, simple, aromatic leaves and white to pale mauve, two-lipped flowers, rather than three-part leaves and enlarged red sepals.

• New Zealand Christmas tree (Metrosideros excelsa)

  Has thick, simple leaves with pale, felted undersides and brush-like red flowers made conspicuous by long stamens.

Ceratopetalum refers to horn-like petals, gummiferum means gum-bearing, and Christmas bush refers to the red sepal display around Christmas in New South Wales.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer using a free-draining propagation mix and gentle bottom heat if available. Seed can also be used, but seedlings may vary in the strength and timing of their coloured display.

Accepted botanical name

Ceratopetalum gummiferum

Native range

New South Wales.

Measured

Average height 800 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.