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Ceratopetalum gummiferum
Also called New South Wales Christmas Bush
Christmasbush is a tall shrub or small tree from eastern New South Wales, grown for its sepals that turn bright red-pink around Christmas. The key to growing it is well-drained soil, since poor drainage invites root-rot dieback.
Ceratopetalum gummiferum, the New South Wales Christmas bush, is a tall shrub or small tree popular in cultivation due to its sepals that turn bright red-pink at around Christmas time.
The specific name gummiferum alludes to the large amounts of gum that is discharged from cut bark.
In cultivation, plants usually grow to no more than 6 metres in height. Plants may be propagated from seed or cuttings, the latter method being preferred to maintain good colour forms. Well-drained soil is required to avoid problems with dieback associated with root-rot fungus. The psyllid Cerotrioza nigromacula is a serious pest, causing leaf curling and (via growth of sooty mould) blackening of foliage. Severe infestations of C. nigromacula can stunt growth.
The species is endemic to New South Wales where it occurs to the east of the Great Dividing Range from Ulladulla in the south to Evans Head in the north.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Ceratopetalum gummiferum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
