About
Callistemon citrinus 'Firebrand' is a perennial shrub that reaches up to 1 meter in height. It features gracefully arching branches and dark green foliage, with leaves measuring up to 10 centimeters. The young shoots display a silvery pink hue. During the spring and summer months, this plant produces vibrant crimson flower spikes, resembling bottlebrushes, that can grow up to 15 centimeters long.
About the genus
Callistemon consists of evergreen shrubs characterized by their fragrant, narrow to lanceolate leaves. These plants produce distinctive bottlebrush-like flower spikes, where the elongated, vividly colored stamens are particularly noticeable.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in moist but well-drained, neutral to acid soil in full sun; established plants are drought resistant. In colder areas grow under glass in peat-free, loam-based compost in full light with good ventilation. Pot on or top dress in early spring
- Pruning
- See pruning group 8; tolerates hard pruning and may require restrictive pruning when grown under glass
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed sown in spring, or root semi-ripe cuttings in summer
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to scale insect, mealy bug and glasshouse red spider mite
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus