Please note:
For most situations, we would not recommend installing this plant in new gardens, landscapes, or plantings in southern California.
It is a low water plant, but more interesting options exist that also provide habitat for songbirds, butterflies, and native pollinators. Some recommended similarly shrubs to consider instead include Desperado sage, Concha ceanothus, hollyleaf cherry, and Pink-flowering sumac.
This plant profile is included in this site as a reference for two primary reasons:
- If you already have this plant in your landscape, this information can be used to know how to care for it.
- If you already have this plant in your landscape, you can use this information to learn which of our recommended plants have the same recommended watering needs, making them potential choices for grouping together if you will be adding new plants to the existing area.
In general, instead of this plant, we recommend planting appropriate California native plants whenever possible.
In addition to their beauty, California native plants offer the most additional benefits beyond just low water use, including habitat for the birds, butterflies, and pollinators who evolved here with them. This adds value and beauty in your landscape beyond just a pretty plant, allowing the landscape to actively contribute to the environment instead of just using less water. You can find our top recommended native plant choices on our Plant Finder by selecting “California Native” and learn more about California native plants here.
To learn what exactly California native plants are and how they are different from other low water plants, visit this link.
For visual interest or other reasons, some people may also want to mix in other non-native low-water demanding plant choices even though they do not have the same ecological value as native plants. For that reason, we feature a number of non-native waterwise selections on this site as well. However, we see native plants as the best “go to” for most landscape or garden choices! We encourage people to consider planting at least 50% of their landscape to native plants. See our Garden Designs section or visit our Waterwise Demonstration Garden in Montclair for plenty of inspiration.
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The Geraldton wax flower is an evergreen shrub with a delicate branching structure, fine texture and wax-like flowers that last for weeks in cut flower arrangements. Native to Australia, it grows best in southern California in sunny locations and with low amounts of supplemental water.
Geraldton wax flower needs good drainage and a sunny location to achieve its best growth. Evergreen needle-like leaves grow on long, flexible stems; older plants can grow 5-7 ft. tall. Colorful flowers grow to 1/2 in. dia., are firm and waxy, and come in light pink to rose and purple. Several cultivars can be found in local nurseries and garden centers that include: C. u. ‘Escondido Rose’ is a standard size plant with deep rose colored flowers; C. u. ‘Purple Pride’ also grows 5-7 ft. tall and produces purple flowers.
