Australian 'Christmas Trees'

There are varieties of Australian native plants that include 'Christmas' as part of their common name. For example, check out the information sheet on Blandfordia grandiflora (Christmas Bells).

In this information sheet we feature Australian native trees that are commonly referred to as Christmas Trees or, let's cheat a bit here, Christmas Bush! Some more than others lend themselves to the home garden.

Bursaria spinosa

Christmas Bush in Tasmania and South Australia - elsewhere it's called Blackthorn.

One of those must-have plants if you are keen on attracting birds and butterflies to your garden. It can be found naturally in all states except Western Australian and Northern Territory.

It's extremely hardy and tolerates a variety of soils and situations.

Masses of creamy white, scented flowers during late spring and summer are followed by purse-shaped, bronze-brown seed capsules, which are often used in floral display. This plant is thorny though, which is great for little birds, as it protects them from predators and larger birds, but it's probably best planted away from well used paths etc.

Bursaria spinosa can grow to 3 metres and often taller. It can become leggy, but annual pruning will keep it bushy.

Seed germinates readily, and cuttings are also fairly easy to get going.

Photograph above courtesy of Helen Moss.

Ceratopetalum gummiferum - New South Wales Christmas Bush

This widely cultivated New South Wales plant is also categorised as a large shrub, as it will usually only grow to about 5 metres tall in cultivation (although it can reach 10 metres tall in its natural habitat).

It produces masses of white flowers during spring followed by bright red calyces (the singular is calyx which is the outer whorl of floral parts). The calyces appear around Christmas time, which makes this plant a striking Christmas plant. The leaves are also attractive, being light green and trifoliate (three leaflets).

It makes an excellent feature plant, but does need well-drained soil and a sunny position for good flowering. It is also used in the cut flower industry and is exported to Japan as Festival Bush. C. gummiferum 'Albery's Millennium Red' is a fine cultivar

Propagation from cuttings from the best flowering plants is ideal, to ensure the trait is passed on.

Nuytsia floribunda - Western Australian Christmas Tree

This tree is found in south-western Western Australia on sandy or granitic soils. It's a tree that grows to about 10 metres tall and it is very difficult to cultivate, which is unfortunate because it is quite a stunner. It's covered in brilliant yellow flowers during summer.

The main problem is that it is a parasitic plant, so it needs a host plant to provide part of its nutrition. Its roots attach themselves to the roots of the host plant/s, with plants up to 150 metres away known to be parasitised!

Some success has been achieved with cultivation in Perth, using grasses and, of all things, strawberries as 'companions'. A grower has also had success sowing seed in the garden using couch grass planted nearby as the host. And yet another study had success with cutting grown Nuytsia and the exotic, deciduous crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia sp) as host.

Propagation from both seed and root cuttings is relatively easy, but keeping the plants alive beyond a year or two is the challenge.

More research is needed to understand the relationship between this plant and its hosts, as most enthusiasts agree it makes a fine specimen plant.

It needs full sun and is frost resistant.

Photographs are courtesy of Australian National Botanic Garden

Prostanthera lasianthos - Victorian Christmas Bush

Members of the Prostanthera genus are often called Mint Bushes because of their aromatic foliage.

This species is a large shrub or small tree, which often has a compact habit. The dark green leaves can be narrow and lance-like to more rounded (ovate).

Flowers, which appear during summer, can be white, pink or mauve and provide a spectacular display.

It's one of the most adaptable of the Mint Bushes, tolerating sun through to heavy shade. It's fast growing and makes a very good screen plant.

A variegated form is now available too, P. lasianthos 'Mint Ice' and a pink form is being sold as P. lasianthos 'Kallista Pink'.

Propagation is best from cuttings.

Photograph courtesy of Marty White, Shire of Yarra Ranges.

Information sources:

www.asgap.org.au
Wrigley, J.W. & Fagg, M., 2003, Australian Native Plants, fifth edition, published by Reed New Holland.

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