Ceratopetalum gummiferum

New South Wales Christmas Bush
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Oxalidales
Family:	Cunoniaceae
Genus:	Ceratopetalum
Species:	C. gummiferum
Binomial name
Ceratopetalum gummiferum Sm.

Ceratopetalum gummiferum, the New South Wales Christmas Bush, is a tall shrub popular in cultivation due to its flowers that turn bright red-pink at around Christmas time. The petals are actually small and white - it is the sepals that enlarge to about 12mm after the flower sets fruit and starts to dry out^[1].

The specific name gummiferum alludes to the large amounts of gum that is discharged from cut bark.

It is similar to the Sakura tree, a tree that grows beautiful pinkish-red blossoms. Its flowers fall off the tree around February, and then die. The wilted flower can stay there, for many years, turning into a dead-pink-white colour. They also have a small point that doesn't affect the body but give them a sharp prick.

To achieve a bright red colour, the tree needs to be situated in a place where it receives much sunlight.

References

1. ^ New South Wales Flora Online: Ceratopetalum gummiferum by G. J. Harden, Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia