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
Christmas bush (NSW Christmas bush)
In season now (November 2026): Yes in NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and TAS
NSW Christmas bush is within the listed Australian season in November. The national season is November to December. Local growing conditions and supply can change the timing. Check the state guide below and ask your florist about locally grown stems before ordering, especially near the beginning or end of the season.
- Right now
- In season in November
- Season
- November to December
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Written by Dan d'Auvergne
Season by state
Flowers and pets: check before bringing a bunch home
Season months drafted from resources.austplants.com.au, anbg.gov.au, anpsa.org.au. Availability varies by grower and region. See sources
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.
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. 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.
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.
Where to see it growing
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Sydney
Best months: August to October
Australian National Botanic Gardens
Canberra
Best months: September to November
Sydney Flower Market
Flemington
Best months: all year
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 my Christmas bush wilting?
Usually the woody stems can't drink. Recut them, split the ends, strip any leaves below the waterline and stand the stems in deep, cool water out of the sun. Mist the leaves on hot days and change the water every couple of days. If red heads fall when you give the bunch a gentle shake, the stems were cut too long ago and won't recover.
Can I pick Christmas bush from the bush?
Leave wild plants alone. Christmas bush grows wild on the sandstone country around Sydney, but almost all cut stems now come from native flower farms in NSW, mostly the cultivar Albery's Red grown in rows. Buy farmed stems from a florist or market, or cut from a tree in your own garden.
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.
Related flowers
All flowers
Planning Christmas flowers in your city
Use your city guide to find local markets and florists, then ask about Christmas bush availability before ordering. See the seasonal notes and care guidance above, and compare Christmas wreath workshops if you would like to make your own arrangement.