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Ceratopetalum gummiferum

new south wales christmas bush

Cunoniaceae New South Wales, Australia

Attracts Pollinators Fragrant (light)Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Ceratopetalum gummiferum is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Cunoniaceae, growing 6-30 feet (2-9 m) tall and 5-15 feet (1.5-4.5 m) wide, often multi-stemmed with an upright, bushy form. The glossy leaves are compound, each divided into three narrow toothed leaflets 1-3 inches (2.5-7 cm) long, mid to deep green and aromatic when crushed. Small white star-shaped flowers about 0.4 inch (1 cm) across open in spring; after the petals fall, the five sepals enlarge and turn deep pink to red over several weeks, creating the coloured display that peaks in early summer. The enlarged red calyces, rather than the flowers, account for the colour through December in its native range. Growth is moderate, and plants reach flowering size in three to five years. The species needs reliable moisture and free drainage and colours most strongly in full sun.

Native Range

Native to New South Wales in eastern Australia, mainly in coastal districts and the adjacent ranges. It grows in moist gullies, open forest, and along watercourses on sandy and sandstone-derived soils.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a specimen, screen, and cut-foliage shrub in gardens and parks, spaced 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) apart. The red-calyx stems are widely cut for summer floral displays in Australia. Suits larger containers in cooler areas where it can be sheltered from frost.

How to Identify

Recognized by compound leaves of three narrow toothed leaflets 1-3 inches (2.5-7 cm) long and by enlarged five-parted calyces that turn deep pink to red in early summer. The small white spring flowers are followed by these reddening sepals, which form the main display. The trifoliate aromatic leaves and red enlarged calyces separate it from flowering shrubs whose colour comes from petals.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 30'

Width/Spread5' - 15'

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

White flowers open in spring (October to November), lasting two to three weeks. The sepals then enlarge and deepen to red over the following weeks, with peak colour in early summer (December) in its native range. Colour holds for three to five weeks before fading.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white flowers; red enlarged calyces

Foliage Description

mid to deep green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-9 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade on freely draining sandy or loamy soils with reliable moisture, matching its native gully habitat. Regular watering through the first two years aids establishment, and even moisture during spring and early summer improves the depth and duration of the calyx colour. The species colours less strongly in shade and suffers in waterlogged or heavy clay soils. Light feeding with low-phosphorus native fertilizer in spring suits it. Tip pruning after the colour fades keeps plants bushy and within size. Root-rot fungi and scale insects are the main problems on poorly drained or stressed plants.

Pruning

Pruning straight after the red calyces fade keeps the shrub compact and encourages branching for the next season display. Cutting flowering stems for indoor use serves as light pruning. The plant reshoots from younger wood but recovers slowly from hard cuts into bare old stems.

Pruning Schedule

summer