Chamelaucium uncinatum (Geraldton wax)

Japanese name: ワックスフラワー
Scientific name: Chamelaucium uncinatum

[Overview]
An evergreen shrub 2–3 m tall.
The branches are thin and branch well, and the plant spreads about as wide as it is tall.
The leaves are simple and opposite, linear and almost cylindrical, 4 cm long, with a tip that curves like a hook.
The leaves are fragrant.
Corymbs 7.5–15 cm across, on short stalks, emerge at the branch tips and from the leaf axils in the upper part of the branches.
The flowers are 5-petaled, 1.2–2.5 cm across, with a waxy texture.
Flower colors include white, pink, red and reddish purple.
The fruit is a nut.

[Cultivation]
Propagate mainly by cuttings.
It prefers a sunny site with good drainage and good water retention.
Plenty of sun makes the plant sturdy and compact, but direct summer sun can cause leaf scorch.
It prefers a warm, dry climate, tolerates dryness well, and withstands light frost.
It dislikes heat and humidity, so in summer move it to bright, airy shade.
A temperature of 5 degrees or above is safe for overwintering, so keep it in a sunny place indoors in winter.
From spring to autumn, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; keep it on the dry side in winter.
Apply slow-release fertilizer once a month in spring and autumn.
Pruning rather hard after flowering keeps the plant in good shape.
Pests and diseases include root rot, gray mold, aphids and scale insects.
Root rot occurs in humid conditions.

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