Bottlebrush

Sun

Full sun; flowering is reduced in partial shade.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Established plants tolerate dry spells, but flower better with occasional deep watering during prolonged dry weather.

Soil

Well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil. Tolerates sandy and loamy soils; avoid persistently waterlogged ground and strongly alkaline soil.

Height

10-20 ft (3-6 m)

Spread

6-15 ft (1.8-4.5 m)

Flowers

Bright red flower spikes, mainly in late spring and summer, with occasional repeat flowering into autumn in warm climates.

Foliage

Evergreen. Narrow, leathery green leaves release a lemon scent when crushed; young growth can be coppery or pinkish.

Growth

Moderate; faster with warmth and adequate moisture.

Care needed

Medium

• Water deeply during the first growing season, allowing the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings.
• Apply a light dressing of low-phosphorus fertiliser in spring if growth is weak; avoid heavy feeding.
• Mulch with composted bark, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Use a container with drainage holes and a free-draining potting mix where winter protection is needed.
• Move container plants into a bright, frost-free position before hard frosts; water sparingly through winter without letting the root ball dry completely.

Pruning. Lightly shorten flowered shoots just behind the spent flower spikes after the main flush, leaving leafy growth below each cut. Remove dead or frost-damaged wood in spring once new growth shows what has survived.

Spring

Check for frost damage and remove dead shoots once new growth begins.

Spring

Plant after frost risk has passed, refresh mulch and feed lightly if needed.

Late spring

Watch new shoots for aphids and rinse off small colonies with water.

Summer

Water new plants and containers deeply during dry spells.

Summer

Lightly trim shoots after the main flowering flush to keep the shrub compact.

Autumn

Move pots under cover before hard frosts in cold-winter regions.

Winter

Keep overwintering pots bright, cool and frost-free; reduce watering.

• Use as a flowering specimen beside a sunny patio, allowing room for its arching branches.
• Plant as an informal screen in mild climates; light trimming preserves more flowers than frequent clipping.
• Combine with grevilleas, westringias and ornamental grasses in an Australian planting.
• Grow in a large container in a sunny courtyard where winter shelter is available.

Garden styles it suits: Australian native, Mediterranean, Coastal, Wildlife garden, Modern courtyard and Sensory garden.

Plant it with: Coastal rosemary, Grevillea, Kangaroo paw, Lomandra, Flax lily and Lavender.

Wildlife: Nectar-rich flowers attract bees and nectar-feeding birds, including honeyeaters in Australia and hummingbirds where these occur in the Americas. Dense branches can provide shelter for small birds.

• Frost scorch or dieback: choose a sheltered site, protect young plants and move pots under cover; prune damaged growth in spring.
• Root rot in wet soil: improve drainage and reduce watering; do not leave containers standing in water.
• Yellow leaves with green veins on alkaline soil: use an acidic potting mix for containers and apply chelated iron suitable for the soil pH.
• Scale insects or aphids: inspect stems and new shoots, wash off aphids and treat persistent scale with a labelled horticultural oil, avoiding hot sun.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No part is recognised as seriously poisonous, but it is not a food plant and eating foliage may cause stomach upset.

• Weeping bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis)

  Usually has more strongly drooping branches and softer, narrower leaves; bottlebrush has a generally more upright habit and firmer leaves with a noticeable lemon scent when crushed.

• Stiff bottlebrush (Callistemon rigidus)

  Has notably stiff, narrow, often sharply pointed leaves and a more rigid habit; bottlebrush leaves are generally broader and lemon-scented.

Callistemon comes from Greek words meaning 'beautiful stamen', citrinus refers to the leaves' lemon scent, and bottlebrush describes the shape of the flower spikes.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer to preserve a named variety. Sow seed in spring under warm, bright conditions, pressing it onto the surface of a fine seed compost; seedlings may differ from the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Callistemon citrinus

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states and Puerto Rico.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and USDA PLANTS. The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.