Founding florist
Tulipanna
Bondi NSW · est. 1992
A Bondi Road florist since 1992, with seasonal bouquets, arrangements, roses and potted orchids, and a weekly note on what's at market.
Australian nativeCeratopetalum gummiferum
NSW Christmas bush: when it's in season in Australia
NSW Christmas bush is in season in Australia from November to December. In Australian Capital Territory the season runs December to April.Being confirmed
- Right now
- Out of season in September
- Season
- November to December
Season by state
NSW Christmas bush is Sydney's Christmas flower. Small white flowers open in late spring, then the sepals behind them swell and turn red through November and December, and that red is what florists sell. The plant grows naturally along the NSW coast and tablelands, mostly on sandstone, and the colour usually holds until the sepals are shed around February. Demand peaks in the weeks before Christmas, so order early. In Canberra it runs later, with flowers opening from December and colour sometimes lasting into autumn.
Where to buy nSW Christmas bush
Sold by the bunch; demand and prices peak just before Christmas. Being confirmed
How to choose good nSW Christmas bush
Hold a stem up and look at the colour right through the head. Sepals that are red all over, including the ones tucked inside, will hold. Patchy pink or green-tinged heads may colour a little more, but not much once cut. Being confirmed The leaves should be glossy and flat, not limp, curled or blackened at the edges, which shows the stems have dried out in the heat. Give the bunch a light shake, as falling sepals are a warning sign. One bunch fills a big jug. Buy in late November or the first week of December, ahead of the pre-Christmas peak.
An Australian native
NSW Christmas bush is Australian native.
Where it's grown
NSW Christmas bush grows wild in forest and gullies on the sandstone country around Sydney and along the NSW coast. For generations it was picked from the bush and from backyard trees. Plantations date back to about 1912, but large commercial plantings only took off in the 1990s. Today most cut stems come from native wildflower farms in NSW, grown in rows like an orchard, and Albery's Red is the most widely grown cultivar. In gardens it forms a tall shrub or small tree and does best in well-drained soil with some shelter from hot wind.
Stems at Australian markets are mostly grown here, so when it is out of season it is hard to find. Being confirmed
Colours, varieties and care
Colours
- red
- deep red
- cream (flowers before colouring)
Varieties to ask for
- Albery's Red
- Johanna's Christmas
Making it last
- Choose stems where the red sepals have fully coloured
- Recut and split the woody stem ends
- Strip leaves below the waterline
- Stand in deep water in a cool spot
- Mist the foliage in hot weather
- Change the water every two days
Using it at home
Christmas bush arrives with flannel flowers, kangaroo paw, peonies, gardenias and the first hydrangeas. Pair it with flannel flowers for a red and white native vase, or with blue hydrangea for contrast. Branches look best loose and generous in a big jug or wide-necked vase, with no extra filler needed. For the table, cut short sprigs and lay them down the centre as a runner. It also dries reasonably well: hang bunches upside down in a cool, dark spot and the red deepens to a rusty tone. Being confirmed
Where to see it growing
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Sydney
Best: August to OctoberBeing confirmed
Australian National Botanic Gardens
Canberra
Best: September to NovemberBeing confirmed
Sydney Flower Market
Flemington
Best: all yearBeing confirmed
Questions people ask
When is NSW Christmas bush in season?
The sepals turn red through November and December, so cut stems are at their best in the weeks before Christmas. The colour holds until the sepals drop around February. In Canberra the season runs later, from December and sometimes into autumn.
Why is Christmas bush red if the flowers are white?
The small flowers are white or cream. After they fade, the sepals behind each flower grow larger and turn red, looking like a second flower. That red stage lines up with Christmas in Sydney, which is how it got its name.
Can I grow NSW Christmas bush in Canberra?
Yes. The Australian National Botanic Gardens notes it does well in Canberra, where it reaches about 6 metres in cultivation. It colours later there than in Sydney, so it's more of a January and February display.
Why is Christmas bush so expensive at Christmas?
Almost all the demand lands in one or two weeks, mostly in Sydney, and the plant only colours once a year. Growers cannot make it colour earlier for the rush, so when everyone wants it at once, prices climb. Buying in late November or early December is usually easier on the wallet.
Why didn't my Christmas bush turn red?
Young plants can take a few years to colour well, and seedlings vary, with some forms staying pale or pinkish. Being confirmed Too much shade and poor drainage also dull the colour. For a reliable red, buy a named cultivar such as Albery's Red, plant it in plenty of sun and water it through spring while the sepals develop.
