Medium shrub or small tree with narrow lemon-scented leaves and iconic bright red bottlebrush flower spikes that draw honeyeaters and lorikeets in numbers.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 8–11 | −12.2 °C to 10 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H3 | −5 °C to 1 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 9 | −1 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 3–7 | −5 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
About Crimson bottlebrush
The bottlebrush flower is not made of petals: what looks like a brush is a dense spike of long stamens, with the true flower parts small and inconspicuous. The arrangement is built for birds, which perch on the stem and are dusted with pollen while feeding. Woody seed capsules persist along the stem for years and in many species open only after fire. Callistemons have been reclassified into Melaleuca by many botanists, though the older name remains in general nursery use, so the same plant may appear under either.
Growing notes
- Flowers attract honeyeaters, lorikeets and native bees in numbers
- Iconic Australian garden plant — bright red brush-shaped flower spikes are unmistakable
- Drought tolerant and salt tolerant once established — succeeds in coastal gardens
- Tends to flush flowers after rain — a reliable seasonal signal
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Crimson bottlebrush against your zones