About
Callistemon pallidus 'Father Christmas' is a resilient evergreen shrub that typically reaches a height of about 1.5 meters. It features a graceful, branching structure and has aromatic, narrowly-elliptic leaves in an olive green hue. In spring, this plant produces spikes of flowers resembling bottlebrushes, showcasing red and white tips, with a possibility of a second bloom in summer. After flowering, it develops woody fruit capsules that can remain on the plant for several years.
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
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy, Spreading branched
- 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, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants
- Fragrance
- Foliage
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
- Pruning group 8
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed or from semi-ripe cuttings
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to scale insects, mealybugs and glasshouse red spider mite
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus