Callistemon citrinus

Callistemon citrinus

Common name: crimson bottlebrush, red bottlebrush

Family: Myrtaceae

Leaf: alternate, 1-4" long, hard flat, narrowly lanceolate/linear, with an acute tip

Flowers: very showy, bottlebrush, red/crimson spikes, appearing on the ends of the branches, and, interestingly enough, the stem continues growing up out past the topmost part of the inflorescence spike, spikes are 2-4" long, blooming any time of year, but mostly in May

Fruit: woody, cup-shaped capsules that persist on the plant, remaining unopened until that single branch/stem or plant dies (several years)

Habit: evergreen shrub; Form: mounded/rounded

Height: up to 14'; Spread: up to 8'

Culture: Plant in full sun in fertile, well-drained soils. Can even succeed in poor/lean soils in hot sun. Can tolerate water-logged soils and drought. Would benefit from protection in areas with a cold winter climate, though can tolerate temperatures down to -10 degrees C. Prefers soils leaning towards acidic. USDA zones 8-11. Cultivar 'Splendens' speculated to be a bit hardier. It is very tolerant of pruning- even older plants regrowing when pruned back hard to old wood. Does not need alot of irrigation, and in fact, the plant's growth is denser and tighter without it.

Uses: border, container, espalier, solo specimen, screen

Origin: Australia