How to Grow NSW Christmas Bush

Some of the most common varieties of NSW Christmas Bush include 'Albery's Red', which has bright red bracts and grows to around 4 m tall. Aptly named 'Red Red Red' grows to 5 m tall.  'Johanna's Christmas' is a compact red variety that grows to around 1.5 m tall and is ideal for small gardens and pots. 'White Christmas' is a taller growing variety, reaching up to 8 m tall, and has white sepals. 

Choose a spot in your garden that's in full sun or light shade (at least six hours of sun is ideal) and has good drainage. NSW Christmas Bush grows best in temperate to warm climates throughout Australia (not just NSW!) and will tolerate light frosts once established.  

Prior to planting, improve and enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. 

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root ball. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Place the plant in the hole and backfill around the roots with soil. The final level of soil should be at the same level as the original potting mix around the plant. Water in well to settle the soil around the roots. It helps to form a raised or doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. This helps keep water where it's needed. 

Keep the soil moist as the plant establishes. Applying an organic mulch, such as sugarcane or bark chips, around the root zone will help keep the soil moist. 

Once established, NSW Christmas Bush is moderately tolerant of dry conditions, however will be much healthier if watered regularly. In extended periods of hot and dry weather, they will benefit from a good deep watering once or twice a week. 

Once plants are established, feed regularly from spring to autumn with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. It slowly releases gentle organic nutrients and is safe for feeding Australian native plants like NSW Christmas Bush.  

To keep the plant looking tidy and promote bushier growth, prune back stems by around one-third after flowering. Or multi-task and cut flowering stems for a vase. Cut colourful stems in the cool of early morning and place them immediately in a bucket of cool water before arranging them in a vase. Re-cut the ends of the stems at a 45 degree angle, so the stems aren't sitting flat on the base of the vase and remove any leaves that will be sitting below the water. Change the water regularly (every 1-2 days) to help prolong the vase life.   

Compact forms of NSW Christmas Bush, such as 'Johanna's Christmas', are best for growing in a pot. 

Choose a well-drained pot that's at least 40 cm wide. A Yates Tuscan Pot creates a great home for NSW Christmas Bush. Place the pot in a position in full sun or part shade (at least six hours of sun is ideal).  

Choose a good quality premium potting mix, like Yates Premium Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.  

Part fill your chosen pot with potting mix. Remove the plant from its container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Place the root ball on the potting mix and backfill around the roots with more potting mix. The final level of mix should be the same as the level currently around the plant. Water in well to settle the potting mix around the roots.  

Keep the potting mix consistently moist while the plant establishes. Applying an organic mulch, such as sugarcane or bark chips, over the surface of the potting mix will help keep it moist. 

Keep the potting mix moist, remembering that potted plants dry out much faster than in-ground plants.  

To promote healthy growth and a wonderful summer display, feed with Yates Dynamic Lifter Liquid Concentrate every 1-3 weeks. It slowly releases gentle organic nutrients and is safe for feeding Australian native plants like NSW Christmas Bush.  

To keep the plant looking tidy and promote bushier growth, prune back stems by around a third after flowering. Or multi-task and cut flowering stems for a vase. Cut colourful stems in the cool of early morning and place them immediately in a bucket of cool water before arranging them in a vase. Re-cut the ends of the stems at a 45 degree angle, so the stems aren't sitting flat on the base of the vase and remove any leaves that will be sitting below the water. Change the water regularly (every 1-2 days) to help prolong the vase life.   

Plants will do best in a position that receives at least six hours of sunshine a day. Less sun than this can lead to spindly growth and less flowers.  

It requires good drainage, so heavy clay soil can create problems with poor growth and root rot diseases. In areas with heavy or clay soil, build up a 30–50 cm high raised mound with free-draining bagged garden soil and plant into this mound. Alternatively, grow a compact variety in a pot.  

It's important to fertilise with a plant food that's safe for Australian plants. Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser is ideal for feeding Australian native plants like NSW Christmas Bush as it slowly releases gentle organic nutrients.  

Yes, NSW Christmas Bush is an evergreen plant and keeps its foliage year-round.  

After flowering has finished, prune back stems by around one-third.  

It's native to coastal forest areas in northern NSW, however can be grown in cool temperate to warm areas throughout Australia.   

Yes, you can! After flowering has finished, take 15 cm long stem cuttings, dip in Yates Clonex Purple Rooting Hormone Gel and place into pots of moist Yates Speciality Potting Mix Cuttings and Seeds. Click here for detailed information on how to grow plants from cuttings.