Geraldton wax | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Myrtaceae |
Genus: | Chamelaucium |
Species: | C. uncinatum
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Binomial name | |
Chamelaucium uncinatum |
Chamelaucium uncinatum, the Geraldton waxflower, Geraldton wax, is a flowering plant endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub 0.5 to 4m high, bearing white or pink flowers June–November. The name uncinatum means "hooked" in Latin, in reference to the tips of the leaves.
The flowers (somewhat resembling those of the tea tree) last a relatively long time after cutting, making the plant popular in horticulture. It is widely cultivated throughout Australia, both in home gardens and in the cut flower industry. Purple-flowering cultivars have been developed.
Chamelaucium uncincatum is very drought-tolerant (xeric) and has aromatic leaves. The species is relatively hardy and fairly easy to grow, especially in a Mediterranean climate. Regardless of soil quality, it is recommended that the substrate be further amended and leavened with inert, mineral materials for added drainage, such as sand, decomposed granite, pumice, perlite, gravel/grit, or even LECA (clay balls). At least six to eight hours of sun is ideal. The plant can potentially be grown in areas of higher humidity, such as Sydney or Australia’s eastern coast, but tends to be shorter-lived. However, it is also a strong candidate for container gardens, and can easily be transported to shelter in colder or wetter months, if potted. Occasionally, C. uncinatum will develop "flimsy" or weak stems and may require staking or some other type of support, especially in windy conditions which could cause breakage.
The hardy characteristics of this species have led to its use as a root-stock plant, for grafting species of the closely-related featherflowers (Verticordia sp).[1]
Many varieties are commercially available, named both for colour and for early/late flowering times. In the wild, Geraldton wax is most commonly white with varying tinges of mauve. The deeper purple forms (pictured below) are selected varieties propagated commercially:
The leaves of Geraldton wax plants can be used in a similar way to rosemary leaves in cooking, as a flavoring agent. The flavor of Geraldton wax leaves is basically citrus, comparable to lemon myrtle (another Australian native plant) or Kaffir lime. The leaves can be infused in oil to add a lemon-like flavor, or added to a stock, or sauce. It can also be used to add citrus notes to gin, or other distilled spirits.