Plant Profile: NSW Christmas Bush

The NSW Christmas Bush (Ceratopetlum gummiferum) earns it’s name for it’s showy red bracts that appear just before and during Christmas here in Australia.

They are ideal to use as a cut flower (hello Christmas day centrepiece!) and it’s really pretty simple to be able to grow your own Christmas Bush at home.

Sunlight: Full sun to half shade

Watering: Regular watering from spring through to autumn.

Soil: This shrub appreciated well-drained soil, so dig through plenty of organic matter like Garden Soil, Cow Manure Plus or ActivGrow Soil Improver prior to planting to give it a good start.

Mulching: Mulch around the base of your Christmas Bush with an organic mulch like Sugar Cane, ensure you leave a space around the trunk where the mulch doesn’t touch.

Pruning: Lightly prune once flowering is finished.