Wedding Bush Plant Care

Ricinocarpos undulatus Lehm.

Updated · Sources · How we source care data

Ricinocarpos undulatus, commonly known as wedding bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, monoecious or dioecious shrub with linear leaves, and white flowers in a umbel with either a single male or female flower, 2 to 5 male flowers, or a single female flower surrounded by up to 3 male flowers.

🌿Shrubs🪴Houseplants🌵Succulents
Water

Every 7–14 days

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Temp

60–80°F

Humidity

40–70%

At a glance

How do you care for Wedding Bush?

Plant Wedding Bush in full sun to partial shade (USDA zones 13a) and water a young shrub every 7–14 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C). Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.

Where Is the Wedding Bush Native To?

Native range1 country

What Is the Wedding Bush?

Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpos undulatus) belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family within the Ricinocarpos genus. Wedding Bush is native to the south-west of Western Australia.

Wedding Bush displays an upright, spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to 4 ft tall with a spread of approximately 6 ft. Wedding Bush produces small white flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.

How Often Should You Water a Wedding Bush?

Water a young or newly planted Wedding Bush every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Watering Frequency

Every 7–14 days

Until established; then in dry spells

What Light Does the Wedding Bush Need?

Wedding Bush thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Light Requirement

Full sun to partial shade

What Temperature and Humidity Does the Wedding Bush Prefer?

Ricinocarpos undulatus tolerates temperatures of 60–80°F. Wedding Bush prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Temperature

60–80°F

Humidity

40–70%

What Soil Mix Works Best for a Wedding Bush?

Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Wedding Bush to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

How Often Should You Fertilize a Wedding Bush?

Feed Wedding Bush every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

Fertilizing

Every 6 months

During the growing season

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Where Should You Plant a Wedding Bush?

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Wedding Bush is suited to USDA Zone 13a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

How Far Apart Should You Plant a Wedding Bush?

Wedding Bush can spread to about 6 ft (1.8 m) and reach about 4 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 6 ft (1.8 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

How Do You Prune a Wedding Bush?

Prune Wedding Bush while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

How Do You Care for a Wedding Bush in Winter?

Wedding Bush is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

How Do You Propagate a Wedding Bush?

Wedding Bush can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to bowman's ricinocarpos plant care, which shares the same genus.

Is the Wedding Bush Toxic to Pets and Children?

Toxic (caution)

Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.

Toxic to humans and pets

This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

What Pests and Diseases Affect the Wedding Bush?

Wedding Bush is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Wedding Bush Need?

Wedding Bush grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Wedding Bush is native to the south-west of Western Australia. In cooler regions, grow Wedding Bush as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.

Hardiness Zone

Zone 13a

Keep exploring plants

Wedding Bush is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.

It belongs to the Ricinocarpos genus — compare its care with other Ricinocarpos species on PlantoScan.

Ricinocarpos is part of the Euphorbiaceae plant family — browse all Euphorbiaceae genera and species.

Wedding Bush thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.

More Ricinocarpos Species

Other Ricinocarpos species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:

Sources

  • Scientific name & taxonomy: Ricinocarpos undulatus Lehm., family Euphorbiaceae (first published in Pl. Preiss. 2: 370 (1848)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
  • Pet toxicity: Wedding Bush is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
  • Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
  • Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.

Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.

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