Chamelaucium uncinatum

Geraldton wax
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Chamelaucium
Species: C. uncinatum
Schauer
Binomial name
Chamelaucium uncinatum

Chamaelaucium uncinatum, Geraldton wax, is a flowering plant endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub 0.5 to 4m high, bearing white or pink flowers June-November. The name uncinatum means "hooked" in Latin, in reference to the tips of the leaves.

The flowers (somewhat resembling those of the tea tree) last a relatively long time after cutting, making the plant popular in horticulture. It is widely cultivated throughout Australia, both in home gardens and in the cut flower industry. Purple-flowering cultivars have been developed.

Cultivation

Geraldton Wax is relatively hardy and fairly easy to grow in a Mediterranean climate with well-drained sandy soil and a sunny aspect. It can be grown in areas of higher humidity, such as Sydney, but tends to be short lived. It is also good in pots. It has the tendency to 'fall over' and may need support. It is very drought-tolerant and has aromatic leaves.

The hardy characteristics have led to its use as a root stock species for grafting species of the closely related featherflowers of genus Verticordia.[1]

Varieties

Many varieties are commercially available, named both for colour and for early/late flowering times. In the wild, Geraldton wax is most commonly white with varying tinges of mauve. The deeper purple forms (pictured below) are selected varieties propagated commercially:

References

Chamelaucium uncinatum showing leaves and flowers.
  1. ↑ Max Hewett (December 1995). "Verticordia in the Garden". Australian Plants online - June 2003. Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants. Retrieved 2008-01-06. From Australian Plants, the societies journal. Max Hewett is leader of ASGAP's Verticordia Study Group.

See also

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