Also known as prickly bottlebrush, this broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree is native to Australia and is a member of the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that also includes clove, allspice, and eucalyptus. It grows 10-2′ tall and has fibrous furrowed bark and pendulous branches. The alternate leaves are 1-5″ long , light green, and narrowly elliptical to narrowly egg-shaped. From late spring to early summer and sporadically thereafter, spikes of bright red flowers resembling bottlebrushes appear. Each spike is 2-4″ long and composed of 15-50 flowers with 5 bundles of 9-14 stamens surrounded by small petals that drop off as the flower ages. The flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. The fruit that follows is a small woody capsule. Weeping bottlebrush is useful for screens, foundation plantings, and borders and is a good choice for pollinator, bird, and butterfly gardens. The genus name, Callistemon, comes from the Greek words, κάλλος(kallis) meaning beautiful and στῆμα (stem) meaning stamen, referring to the dominant role of stamens in the flowers. The specific epithet, viminalis, is from the Latin word, vimen meaning shoot, and refers to the weeping shoots of the plant.
Type: Flowering broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree
Outstanding Feature: Flowers; weeping habit
Form: Weeping
Growth Rate: Moderate
Bloom: Spikes of bright red flowers that resemble bottlebrushes from late spring to summer and sporadically thereafter
Size: 20-30′ H x 15′ W
Light: Full sun to part sun
Soil: Average, medium moist, well-drained, acidic; somewhat drought tolerant
Hardiness: Zones 9-11
Care: Prune after flowering to encourage bushiness
Pests and Diseases: None of significance
Propagation: Seed, semi-hardwood cuttings
Outstanding Selections:
‘Red Cascade’
‘Slim’ (8-10′ H x 3-4′ W)
‘Little John’ (dwarf, to 5′ tall)
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Karen Meyers