Christmas Bush

Did you know

• The 'flowers' that turn red at Christmas are actually the sepals, which enlarge and redden after the true white petals fall.
• It blooms around Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere, serving as Australia's natural Christmas decoration.
• The genus name means 'horn petal' from the Greek, referring to the distinctive shape of the small white petals.
• It is the floral emblem of New South Wales, Australia's most populous state.
• The wood was traditionally used by Aboriginal Australians for making tools and implements.

Color meanings

Uses

• ornamental tree
• cut branches for decoration
• native landscaping