Chamelaucium

( kam - ee - LAW - see - um )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly known as Waxflower, this shrub is native to Australia, and requires full sun and little to moderate water. It is evergreen and is light and airy in appearance, mimicking Heather. Older, established plants have more woody, twisted trunks and shaggy bark. Flowers bloom in sprays of reddish pink, and these plants can take ocean exposure, making them great additions to coastal gardens. Use Waxflower in mixed beds and borders, to fill in areas of the landscape with light, evergreen foliage, or as specimen or potted plants.

Chamelaucium Species and Varietals

The genus Chamelaucium belongs to the family Myrtaceae, and includes 14 distinct species. The genus was first described by French botanist Rene Louiche Desfontaines in 1819, and since then has risen in popularity due to its use in the cut flower industry (the blooms can last up to three weeks in water). Chamelaucium gets its common name, Waxflower, from the waxy quality of its small petals. Waxflower grows best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 8, 9, and 12-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Chamelaucium ciliatum (Cameo Pink, Stirling Wax, Albany Wax)
This shrub has grey-green foliage and pink buds that open into white flowers from spring through early summertime. Individual plants grow to reach 6 feet tall and wide at maturity. Leaves are tiny and green. Variety 'Scaddan' grows to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide, and has white flowers that fade to pink.

Chamelaucium spp. Hybrids (Hybrid Waxflower)
This group of shrubs was bred to have the best flowers and overall shape for ornamental use in home gardens. They range in height, width, flower color, and foliage.

'Lady Stephanie'
Blossoms are rose-pink. Foliage is lemon-scented; to 6 feet tall and wide.

'Matilda'
Grows to 4 feet tall and wide, with white flowers that age to purple. Citrus-scented foliage.

'My Sweet Sixteen'
This shrub grows to be 6-8 feet tall and wide, with white flowers that age to red.

Chamelaucium uncinatum (Geraldton Waxflower, Geraldton Wax)
Grows to 4-6 feet tall and wide, and bloom color varies. Varieties include 'Dancing Queen' (with double pink flowers, growing to 6 feet tall and wide), 'White' (with white flowers that bloom in wintertime), 'Escondido Rose' (with magenta flowers; also called 'M1'), and 'Purple Pride' (with deep rosy-purple flowers, growing 6-7 feet tall and wide).

Caring for chamelaucium

Plant Waxflower in late winter or early springtime in a space in the landscape that receives full sun; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms. When these flowers are grown in less light, they will not flower as profusely. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 5.5 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants are considered drought-tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone for much of the year with supplemental irrigations during extended periods of drought. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the soil fully dries out.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Chamelaucium should reach their full size in 10-20 years. These shrubs will thrive even when neglected, and are considered very easy to care for. Prune to remove any dead, damaged, diseased, or crossing branches in late winter or early springtime. After flowering has faded, cut the entire plant back by about 1/3 to encourage new shoots to form. They will bear the next season's blooms. This yearly pruning also assists with airflow through the center of the plant. Chamelaucium shrubs can survive in the landscape for decades before needing to be replaced.

Harvesting Chamelaucium
Wax Flower shrubs are widely known for their cut flowers, which last for a very long time in arrangements (up to 16-25 days). They are in bloom from late winter to early spring. Choose branches for cutting that have buds that are just beginning to open up. The best time to harvest is in the morning, after dew has dried but before the heat of the day sets in. Using clean, sharp shears, cut stems at a 45 degree angle just above a node. Drop the harvested flower stems into a bucket of cool water, and then bring them indoors to arrange them.

Propagation

The quickest and easiest way to propagate Waxflower is through taking and rooting cuttings. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below.

Propagating Chamelaucium by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In summer, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate by cutting. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 4-6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip off the bottom half's leaves. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot so that the lowest set of leaves is just above the soil surface. Gently fill in soil around the base to support the cutting; do not pack the soil down.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept a sunny spot indoors where it receives bright, indirect light. Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. Rooting times vary depending on which Waxflower plant you're propagating, so continue to check for roots every so often around three to four weeks after planting. When you notice new growth on your propagated plant, it's a good sign that you have roots, as well. After your plant has sprouted roots, decrease watering to once a week.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright indirect light and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist for about a year, after which you can transplant it to its new home in your yard. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Problems and Pests

Waxflower is rarely bothered by pests and disease. For information on commonly encountered pests and diseases in the home garden, consult the following pages:

Pests & Pest Management

Plant Issues