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.

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 zones 8, 9, and 12-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Chamelaucium ciliatum (Cameo Pink)
This shrub has grey-green foliage and pink buds that open into white flowers. Grows to 6 feet tall and wide. Variety 'Scaddan' grows to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide, and has white flowers that fade to pink.

​Chamelaucium 'Lady Stephanie'
Blossoms are rose-pink and bloom in springtime and summer. Foliage is lemon-scented and the plant itself grows to be about 6 feet tall and wide.

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

​Chamelaucium 'My Sweet Sixteen'
This shrub grows to be 6-8 feet tall and wide, with white flowers that age to red. 
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Chamelaucium uncinatum 'Geraldton Waxflower'
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 and pruning chamelaucium shrubs

Plant Waxflower shrubs in late winter or early springtime in an area with full sun exposure and well-draining, somewhat drier soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. Before planting and once a year, amend the soil around the bottom of the plant with plenty of organic matter. This is the only regular fertilizing Waxflower shrubs really need. When young, provide regular watering during summertime. When mature, these plants are drought tolerant and will get by on rainwater alone. They will thrive, even when neglected, and are considered very easy to care for. After flowering as 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.

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
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 plant.

Problems and Pests

Waxflower is rarely bothered by pests and disease.
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Gallery

Chamelaucium ciliatium 'Scaddan'
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Waxflower has delicate, needle-like foliage.
Cut Waxflower sprays make great additions to arrangements, adding airiness and a different texture.

Videos

All about Waxflowers!
Planting Waxflower.

Resources

How to Grow and Care for Waxflower
Propagating Waxflower in Local Gardens
Chamelaucium Growing Conditions - Plant Care for Chamelaucium
Wikipedia: Chamelaucium
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 236, Chamelaucium
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