Pucker up for a kiss under the Aussie Christmas Bush

Holly, ivy, pine trees and mistletoe… traditional symbols of Christmas perhaps, but it’s time to start celebrating under another red and green flower, the Australian native Christmas Bush.

Christmas Bush is a great substitute for traditional Christmas plants because of its bright red showy flowers with green leaves and its seasonal availability from November through to January.

In the face of Queensland’s water crisis, Queensland scientists are working to improve the water efficiency of the Christmas Bush to enable growers to better manage their limited water supplies.

Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin emphasised that the ‘Aussie Christmas Bush’ was fast becoming a vital export crop for eastern Australia.

“Large volumes of Christmas Bush are selling in overseas markets such as Japan and North America,” Mr Mulherin said.

“In fact, it is estimated to be the fastest growing wildflower export crop in eastern Australia.

“The current research will enable us to better fill the international demand.”

Scientists are using probes to investigate how water moves through the soil to see if it’s reaching the deeper roots of the plant.

The aim of this research is to speed up plant growth, improve yield (that is, improve the number of stems and the stem length) and enable growers to better manage their water resources for key Australian natives crops, including Christmas Bush.

Mr Mulherin said other traditional Christmas flora can be harmful to some Australian natives with holly and ivy recognised weeds in Australia.

The Christmas Bush has a long and colourful history in Australia.

The Australian native, known as Ceratopetalum gummiferum, has been used as a Christmas decoration since at least the 19^th century.

As early as 1882, boat loads of harvested Christmas Bush were being rowed to Sydney for sale in markets, while today it is almost exclusively sourced from native flower plantations.

The current research is part of a Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) project, with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) partnering with the Flower Association of Queensland Inc. (FAQI).

Mr Mulherin said it would be great to see Christmas Bush regain its traditional place in Queensland as the Aussie Christmas flower.

“This flower is festive, its harvest coincides with Christmas time, it has a long life as a cut flower and is native to Australia. What more could we ask for in a floral Christmas decoration?”

Christmas bush is grown commercially throughout South East Queensland, in places like Gympie, Maleny and Toowoomba.

To obtain your own Christmas Bush for this year’s Christmas festivities, contact your local florist.

Media: 32396530