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  White Christmas - Ceratopetalum gummiferum

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This is a white calyx version of the popular NSW Christmas bush, which grows to a similar height and width as the red varieties. Like the red ones, this large shrub to small tree is suitable for average gardens, likes a well drained soil and does best among other shrubs and trees which give some shelter to the plant. It can be tender to heavier frosts while young, but can survive these if given some protection, and can then thrive in cold places like Canberra most successfully. Grows to around 6 metres tall and 3 metres wide eventually, but it responds well to pruning and can be shaped to size. It flowers around Christmas time, and regular spring fertilising will encourage generous flowering….use a good native fertilizer and water in well afterwards to avoid leaf or root burn.