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Also Known As: Geraldton Wax-flower

Botanical Name: Chamelaucium uncinatum

Pronunciation: cham-e-LAW-see-um un-si-NAY-tum

Family Name: Myrtaceae (myrtle)

Origin: Australia

Common Relatives: eucalyptus, bottlebrush, leptospermum

Introduction: Named for the Western Australian city of Geraldton near where the waxflower originated, this woody shrub was known to blanket the western countryside creating a magnificent display during flowering time. The waxflower’s heath-like shrubs with delicate star-shaped white, pink, lavendar and multi-colored flowers that have a vase life of 5 to 10 days, were long considered to be a crop only suitable for the Outback. Successful growing in Israel, Peru, Thailand and California, however, has shown that this lovely lady from Geraldton can travel the globe.

Interesting Facts:

• Chamelaucium: Greek for dwarf and white.
• The specific epithet name uncinatum means hooked at the point.
• Often grown in Australia and shipped to the US floral industry.
• This family is important economically for many edible fruits including guava, rose-apple, spices such as allspice and cloves, timber (eucalyptus) and many ornamental species such as those described herein.
• excellent filler for bouquets

• Flowers 1/ 2inch across, occur along stems with needle-like leaves
• plant is a woody shrub, dicotyledon, leaves not parallel veined

Flower Color: white, pink, purple, cream, rose

Fragrance: none

Decorative Life: 5-10 days

Special Care Tips: Should be treated with an anti-ethylene product. Remove bottom leaves if present, recut stems under water and place into a fresh flower food solution.

Ethylene Sensitivity: yes