General Description:

Cheyniana is a small genus comprising two species.  The genus was established in 2009¹ and is closely related to Balaustion. Further information on the taxonomy of the genus Cheyniana and related plants can be found in Geraldton Wax and its Relatives – Background.

Cheyniana microphylla is a small shrub up to 0.5 metres high and 1 metre wide.  The small leaves are oval shaped to about 2 mm long and 1.5 mm wide and densely arranged along the branches.  The unusual urn-shaped flowers are about 10 mm long, bright red in colour and occur at the ends of short branchlets from late winter to spring.

Like its relative Balaustion pulcherrimum, this is a particularly spectacular plant but is not seen often in cultivation.  It would be best suited to semi arid climates in a sunny and well drained location. It is tolerant of at least moderate frost.  Plants would be ideally suited to growing in containers.

Propagation is best carried out from cuttings of hardened, current season’s growth. Plants can be propagated from seed but this is not readily available.

1. Rye B. L. (2009);  A reduced circumscription of Balaustion and description of the new genus Cheyniana (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae). Nuytsia 19(1): 129–148 (2009)