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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

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Woolworths reveals last-minute Christmas range with 16 new products

Woolworths reveals last-minute Christmas range with 16 new products

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When should you take down your Christmas tree?

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The best way to store Christmas decorations

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Tara's handmade Christmas decorations and gifts

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How to wrap a gift when the paper is too short

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16 easy Christmas recipes

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When is the ‘correct’ time to open Christmas presents?

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14 gorgeous gift ideas from small Aussie businesses

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Tara Dennis’ guide to DIY Christmas table decorations

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How to make a mini succulent Christmas tree

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Are Christmas trees poisonous to cats?

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Before and after: A village hall transformed

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This mum’s Christmas Kmart hack is next level

  1. Home
  2. Garden

How to grow a NSW Christmas bush

This native plant decorates itself just in time for Christmas. - by Carna Feldtmann
  • 17 Aug 2020
How to grow a NSW Christmas bush
Carna Feldtmann

Since we're well and truly past the halfway point of 2020, it's almost time to start looking ahead to the best part of the year, Christmas!

The Christmas Bush is a plant that truly rings in the season, adding a bit of Christmas spirit to your garden with dainty sepals that resemble sparkling lights dappled all over the branches.

The NSW Christmas bush (Ceratopetalum gummiferum) is unique in that its petals aren’t the brightest and most beautiful part of the plant. That feat instead goes to the vibrantly coloured sepals that emerge after flowering and become bold and bright in colour. After flowering in spring, the tree will begin to gradually decorate itself by turning a bright scarlet red just before Christmas. 

christmas bush
Carna Feldtmann

How to plant a NSW Christmas bush

To achieve the brightest red coloured sepals, plant your Christmas bush in a sun drenched spot. They work best in a bush garden setting, or as a screening plant, and their creamy white flowers attract native butterflies, moths and bees. To prolong their flowering season during spring, apply a good dose of specially formulated native plant food (such as Neutrog Bush Tucker fertiliser).

How to cut NSW Christmas bush flowers

When cut, their pretty scarlet blooms are surprisingly long lasting – up to three weeks! Use a sharp pair of secateurs to cut the bottoms of stems at an angle and change the water regularly to prolong the life of your lovely bouquet. 

Christmas bush
Getty

Australian Christmas bush varieties

But don’t worry – if you don’t live in New South Wales, there’s a Christmas bush for all areas of the continent. Victorian Christmas Bush (Prostanthera lasianthos) grows in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, and Tasmania. South Australian and Tasmanian Christmas Bush Bursaria spinosa grows in all states except Western Australia. And the West Australian Christmas tree (Nuytsia floribunda), well it only grows in WA and is the largest mistletoe in the world!

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  • Garden
  • Christmas Decorating, Tips & Traditions

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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

Woolworths reveals last-minute Christmas range with 16 new products

Woolworths reveals last-minute Christmas range with 16 new products

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The best way to store Christmas decorations

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{headline}

{headline}

How to wrap a gift when the paper is too short

How to wrap a gift when the paper is too short

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{headline}

{headline}

 When is the ‘correct’ time to open Christmas presents?

When is the ‘correct’ time to open Christmas presents?

14 gorgeous gift ideas from small Aussie businesses

14 gorgeous gift ideas from small Aussie businesses

Tara Dennis’ guide to DIY Christmas table decorations

Tara Dennis’ guide to DIY Christmas table decorations

How to make a mini succulent Christmas tree

How to make a mini succulent Christmas tree

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Are Christmas trees poisonous to cats?

Before and after: A village hall transformed

Before and after: A village hall transformed

This mum’s Christmas Kmart hack is next level

This mum’s Christmas Kmart hack is next level

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