Evergreen Beauties: Christmas Bush Plants for Your Winter Garden
Even in the depths of winter, when snow blankets the landscape, evergreen plants provide a welcome touch of green. Among these winter stalwarts, two exceptional choices stand out: the Christmas bush plants.
Two Varieties of Christmas Bush
Chile Christmas Bush (Baccharis magellanica)
Hailing from Chile, this variety is known for its tiny, glossy green leaves and mounding habit. It remains relatively low-growing but can spread up to 6 feet wide. In spring, it bursts into bloom with clusters of small, white flowers that give way to fluffy seed heads.
As a groundcover, the Chile Christmas bush thrives in poor soil and can tolerate salt spray. It also attracts numerous pollinators during its blooming season.
Christmas Bush Australia (Ceratopetalum gummiferum)
Native to Australia, this Christmas bush grows into a medium-sized tree, reaching up to 20 feet tall with a spread of half its height. Its long, glossy leaves are divided into three leaflets, with young leaves exhibiting a light pinkish tinge.
From mid-summer to fall, the Australian Christmas bush is adorned with vibrant carmine red sepals that envelop its tiny white flowers. The sepals and foliage are so striking that this plant is often grown commercially for cut stems, which are used to decorate homes during the Christmas season. It is also known as Fairley’s Coral and Festival Bush.
Christmas Bush Care
Both varieties of Christmas bush have similar growing requirements, although the Chilean type prefers full sun while the Australian variety can tolerate part shade or sun. Both can handle periods of dryness but perform best with average watering.
Pruning: The Chilean Christmas bush does not require pruning, but the Australian variety benefits from pruning after flowering to encourage new growth.
Fertilization: Both plants should receive an annual application of balanced plant food in spring.
Maintenance: These plants are generally low-maintenance and easy to care for. The Chilean variety is deer-tolerant and can withstand harsh conditions.
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