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How to grow a NSW Christmas bush

This native plant decorates itself just in time for Christmas. - by Carna Feldtmann
  • 03 Nov 2021

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.

WATCH: Graham makes Christmas flower pots

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
Adobe Stock

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!

You may also like:

Christmas plants for your garden

The essential guide to Australian native plants

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