Geraldton Wax

How to choose Geraldton wax

The species, Chamelaucium uncinatum, is an open shrub that can reach 2m to 3m tall and wide. Named selections have been chosen for flower colour, flowering time and a more compact habit, so check the mature size on each product page before deciding where it goes. Early Pink Geraldton Wax opens the season with pink flowers. Pinnacle Pink Geraldton Wax and Pinnacle White Geraldton Wax belong to a related species, Chamelaucium floriferum, and make a matching pair where two colours are wanted. Local Hero Geraldton Wax is a named selection of the common species.

Planting several selections that flower at different times stretches the display and the picking season. If the plan is to cut stems for the house, allow room for a larger shrub, because bigger plants give longer stems.

Where Geraldton wax grows

Geraldton wax comes from sandy coastal country north of Perth, and it performs wherever those conditions can be matched: full sun, open air movement and soil that drains fast. It is at home in Mediterranean climates with dry summers, including much of southern Western Australia, South Australia and inland Victoria and New South Wales. It takes light frost once established and handles dry spells well.

Humid summers and heavy clay are the main causes of failure, because wet soil in warm weather brings on root rot. In those conditions grow it in a raised bed, on a slope or in a large pot of native potting mix, in the sunniest and breeziest spot available. It suits native gardens, informal screens, gravel gardens and sunny banks. For companions with the same needs see our Australian native shrubs and drought tolerant plants.

Planting and spacing

Space plants 1m to 1.5m apart for an informal screen, or give a single shrub 2m of room. Do not enrich the soil heavily. On clay, build a mound 30cm high with sandy loam and plant into that. Geraldton wax resents root disturbance, so slide it from the pot without teasing the roots, set it at the same depth and water in. Mulch with gravel or coarse bark, kept clear of the stem. Stake tall plants in windy sites until they anchor.

Care basics

Water weekly through the first summer, then only in long dry periods; overwatering does more harm than drought. Feed once in spring with a low phosphorus native fertiliser. Prune each year straight after flowering, taking up to a third off the leafy growth to keep the shrub dense. Do not cut back into bare old wood, as it is slow to reshoot. Picking long flowering stems for a vase counts as pruning. Yellowing and sudden collapse in warm, wet weather point to root rot, which is prevented by drainage and cannot be fixed afterwards.

Common questions

When does Geraldton wax flower?

From late winter through spring, with the exact timing depending on the selection and the climate. Early forms can start in midwinter in warm areas.

How long do the cut flowers last?

Usually ten days to two weeks in a vase. Cut when about half the flowers on the stem are open and change the water every few days.

Can Geraldton wax grow in a pot?

Yes. Use a large pot with generous drainage holes and a native potting mix, stand it in full sun and let the mix dry a little between waterings.

Why did my Geraldton wax die suddenly?

The usual cause is root rot from wet, poorly drained soil in warm weather. Replant in a raised position or a pot, and water less.