As these die the sepals enlarge and become pink to red in colour, the display peaking at Christmas time in Australia.

The petals are actually small and white – it is the sepals that enlarge to about 12mm after the flower sets fruit and starts to dry out.

The species was first formally described by English botanist James Edward Smith in 1793 in A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland[3] The species is endemic to New South Wales where it occurs to the east of the Great Dividing Range from Ulladulla in the south to Evans Head in the north.

[2] Plants may be propagated from seed or cuttings, the latter method being preferred to maintain good colour forms.

[2] The psyllid Cerotrioza nigromacula is a serious pest, causing leaf curling and (via growth of sooty mould) blackening of foliage.