About
This evergreen shrub is a compact climber that can grow to about 1.5 meters in height. Its leaves are narrow, ranging from oblong to lanceolate, and emit a lemon fragrance when crushed. In summer, it produces vibrant red-pink flowers resembling bottle brushes, arranged in cylindrical spikes that can reach lengths of up to 8 centimeters.
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
- Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Climber Wall Shrub, Conservatory Greenhouse, Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 1-1.5 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Mediterranean climate plants, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical
- Native to
- Australia
- Fragrance
- Foliage
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in a warm, sheltered position in full sun in a moist but well-drained neutral to acidic soil. Protect plants thoroughly from severe cold weather in winter and waterlogged conditions
- Pruning
- Tip prune young plants to encourage bushy growth. Established and mature plants should be pruned carefully and gradually in stages over two or three summers, cutting back older wood to younger, outward-facing shoots immediately after flowering. Pruning group 8
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed or from semi-hardwood cuttings
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to scale insects, mealybugs and glasshouse red spider mite
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus