Callistemon citrinusCrimson Bottlebrush

Callistemon citrinus, the Crimson Bottlebrush, is an eastern Australian evergreen that carries dense crimson flower spikes on arching branches in spring, usually with a second flush in autumn. It settles at 2 to 4 metres as a shrub and can be grown on to a small tree of 5 to 6 metres.

Its tolerance of both heavy wet soils and long dry spells is unusual, and it takes clipping well, which is why it appears so often as a street verge and car park screen.

Specifications

• Height2 to 4 metres as a shrub, or 5 to 6 metres grown on as a small tree
• Width2 to 3 metres
• Native toEastern Australia, from Queensland to Victoria
• FoliageNarrow stiff lance-shaped leaves, lemon-scented when crushed, with pink-bronze new growth; evergreen
• Growth rateModerate

Conditions

• SoilAdapts widely, tolerating clay and periodically wet soils as well as free-draining sands
• LightFull sun to partial shade
• WaterLow to moderate; drought-tolerant once established
• ClimateThrives in temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean regions and in warm climates with irrigation

Additional Features

• FlowersCrimson bottlebrush spikes in a heavy spring flush with a lighter repeat in autumn
• UsesIdeal for informal screens and hedges, street verge planting, car park beds and park shrubberies
• SpacingPlant 1.5 to 2.5 metres apart for a continuous screen
• Low MaintenancePrune lightly after each flush to keep the habit dense
• Pest ResistanceGenerally sound and resilient
• Drought ToleranceHolds condition through dry periods once the root system is away
• Wildlife AttractionNectar-rich spikes draw honeyeaters, other birds and bees
• VersatilitySuited to coastal and inland positions; tolerates wind and periodic wet feet

The Crimson Bottlebrush is a dependable flowering screen that asks little and keeps working through both wet ground and drought.