Callistemons
Callistemon ‘Pink Champagne’ was one of the early callistemons that we planted.
We have planted 201 Callistemon plants (to May 2020) in our garden of which 131, or 65% remain, representing 40 different species and cultivars. We planted many of these in the bottom right hand corner of our garden, as it was somewhat wet in this area. In July 2016 a very large 90 year old pine, Pinus radiata, fell and smashed many of our mature flowering Callistemons. We lost 11 trees, C. ‘Baroondah Station’, C. citrinus ‘Western Glory’, C. ‘Dawson River Weeper’, C. ‘Endeavour’, C. ‘Genoa Glory’, C. ‘Harkness’, C. ‘Perth Pink’, C. ‘Pink Alma”, C. ‘Rebecca’, C. ‘Rose Opal’ and C. ‘Taree Pink’.We also lost a whole section of our front hedge of C. salignus, about ten trees. It was very upsetting to lose these trees which were flowering so well each year after a decade or more of growth.
Callistemon ‘Baroondah Station’ (Photos above)
Callistemon ‘Baroondah Station’ is a favourite, originally planted in December 2003, so we have planted another to replace the one felled by the pine. The new plant is only small, but I hope that it will grow to 2-3m high and be covered in pink blooms like the original.
Callistemon ‘Betka Beauty’
Callistemon ‘Betka Beauty’ is a compact shrub, 2m high x 1.5m wide, with papery bark, light green foliage and crimson brushes. We planted three of these in 2005-2007, but two of them were overwhelmed by a large Grevillea ‘Bulli Princess’. The one remaining flowers well. All seem to have disappered by April 2023.
Callistemon ‘Bronwen’
Callistemon ‘Bronwen’
Callistemon ‘Bronwen’ is a showy cultivar, 2m high x 2.5m wide, with hard, dull green foliage and large pink/purple bottlebrush flowers. We planted one in September 2014 and it first bloomed in November 2015.
Callistemon ‘Burgundy Jack’
Callistemon ‘Burgundy Jack’
We planted eight Callistemon ‘Burgundy Jack’ in October 2005. This plant, 3m high x 2m wide, was Shrub of the Year 2003 and has beautiful burgundy flowers and bronze new growth. The plants that we purchased were very pot bound and we realised that we should not have bought them. However, they have settled into their positions now, have grown to 1.5m x 1.5m, and bloom really well every year over a long period.
Callistemon ‘Candy Pink’ (Photos above)
We planted one Callistemon ‘Candy Pink’ in July 2004, height to 3m, with bright pink bottlebrush flowers. This plant flowers well every year. We planted another in October 2021.
Callistemon ‘Carnival Cerise Pink’
We planted four of these Callistemon citrinus cultivars, 1.2m high and wide, with pink bottlebrush flowers and pink new growth on lemon scented green foliage, in 2022 and 2023. Best grown in full sun or part shade in free draining soil.
Callistemon ‘Cherry Bomb’
We planted this dwarf compact hybrid bottlebrush with bright pink new foliage, which is drought and light frost tolerant, in a pot, in January 2023. Lovely shape and beautiful new foliage.
Callistemon '‘Cherry Time’
One Callistemon ‘Cherry Time’ was planted in March 2005, then two more in October 2007. ‘Cherry Time’ forms a weeping shrub, 1.8m high x 1.5m wide, with fine glossy leaves, bronze new growth and vivid cherry brushes. This plant has flowered only rarely for us and is disappointing for that reason.
Callistemon ‘Demesne Rowena’
Callistemon ‘Demesne Rowena’ or ‘Rowena’
We planted nine Callistemon ‘Demesne Rowena’, now called ‘Rowena’, in 2004-6 to edge the upper pond. These plants have performed extremely well, growing to 2m x 2m even after much trimming. The flowers are a bright lolly pink and last for a long time.
Callistemon ‘Edna Walling’s Scarlet Willow’
Callistemon ‘Edna Walling’s Scarlet Willow’, C. salignus x C. viminalis ‘Pendant’, is a soft foliaged large shrub to 3m high x 2m wide, with pink new growth and scarlet brushes. We planted one in August 2005 and it bloomed for the first time two years later.
Callistemon ‘Eureka’
Callistemon ‘Eureka’ is a tall shrub to 5m high with pink new growth.. The flowers are purplish red and the one we planted in October 2004 stands out when in flower.
Callistemon ‘Firebrand’ Fairhill form
We planted 28 C. ‘Firebrand’ Fairhill form (photos above), synonym ‘Hansa’s Firebrand’, in the front hedge in 2004-6 as an extra lower barrier in front of Callistemon salignus. These are small weeping shrubs, 1.5m x 1.5m, with large bright red bottlebrush flowers. Many of these died and we looked to replace them without much success, as they are hard to strike. We eventually replanted with Correa alba.
C. ‘Firebrand’
Callistemon ‘Firebrand’
We planted 20 C. ‘Firebrand’ in February 2008, which is a low spreading form of Callistemon citrinus, 80cm high x 2-3m wide. This plant has brilliant red brushes and was the only plant we could source after an extended search to replace missing bushes in the front hedge. Then a month later, out of the blue, we managed to obtain 20 C. ‘Firebrand’ Fairhill form, a taller form to 1.5m x 1.5m that we wanted, so we removed the smaller ‘Firebrand’ from the front hedge and planted them in the garden. Most survived, amazingly enough, and are still blooming each year.
Callistemon ‘Four Seasons’
Callistemon ‘Four Seasons’
Callistemon ‘Four Seasons’, C. viminalis x C. citrinus ‘Splendens’, is a compact shrub to 2m high x 1.5m wide, with salmon-pink new growth and large crimson brushes supposedly year round. Our specimen, planted March 2009, has grown somewhat larger than advertised, to 3.5m high x 3m wide, and flowers in winter and spring for us.
Callistemon ‘Genoa Glory’
Callistemon ‘Genoa Glory’, C. forresterae ‘Susan’, is a compact shrub to 2.5m high x 2m wide, with grey green foliage and many glossy purplish brushes. We planted two of these, one in December 2003 and the other in February 2006, but only one survives.
Callistemon glaucus
Callistemon glaucus can grow to 2.5m high x 2-3m wide, but for us is still a small bush, 1m x 1m, after 11 years. This plant does have outstanding large red brushes, first flowering for us November 2017, and rigid dark green leaves.
Callistemon ‘Green Envy’
We were very pleased to obtain two Callistemon ‘Green Envy’ in November 2019 from Bushland Flora in Melbourne, the nursery that selected this attractive shrub. This plant is a hybrid dwarf form of Callistemon viminalis, with a compact habit, growing to 1m x 1m, soft green foliage and red flowers. One nearly passed out in the heat of summer ’19-’20, but has regrown now that the temperature has mellowed. We planted three more in April 2023, but only one survived the winter.
Callistemon ‘Hot Pink’
Callistemon ‘Hannah Ray’ (Photos below)
We have about 30 of this C. viminalis cultivar with a weeping habit and red brushes, forming a small tree to 4.5m high, named after the late Mrs. Harry Hazlewood (nee Miss Hannah Ray).
Callistemon ‘Hot Pink’
Callistemon ‘Hot Pink’ is another hybrid, C. splendens x pallidus, forming a shrub 1.5m high x 1m wide, with pink new growth and hot pink flowers. We planted one in September 2015 and it has grown and flowered well.
Callistemon ‘Injune’
Callistemon ‘Injune’ was planted in September 2006 and was slow to grow and flower. This shrub has grown to 2m high x 1.5m wide and first flowered in December 2010 with pale pink flowers, which fade to white.
Callistemon ‘King’s Park Special’ (photos above)
As part of our original planting in 2003 we planted 5 Callistemon ‘King’s Park Special’ in a line in the back garden. These have grown to 4m high with narrow grey-green foliage and flower every year with drooping red brushes. We have had some damage from storms and branches falling off the pine trees, but these trees make a great statement in the back garden.
Callistemon ‘Little John’
We have planted 11 Callistemon ‘Little John’, the first eight in 2003-4. These early plants were infected badly with webbing caterpillar, and despite spraying with white oil and Confidor, and moving several into a position with more air movement and sun, they were eventually all removed. We planted three more in the new sand garden in February 2015 and these have grown well and first flowered in December 2019. They are on the edge of the bed and receive plenty of sun and air movement. This plant supposedly grows to 1m x 1m, except for the one we notice at the Australian National Botanic Gardens which is at least 2m x 2m. The leaves are a very attractive dark blue-green and the flowers are dark red.
Callistemon ‘Mauve Mist’
One Callistemon ‘Mauve Mist’ was planted in December 2003 and survived the fall of the pine. This plant is expected to form a dense shrub 3m high and wide with mauve pink flower spikes. Ours so far is smaller, 1.5 x 1.5, and only flowers a little. It might be in too much shade.
Callistemon ‘Packer’s Selection’ (photos above)
We planted two Callistemon ‘Packer’s Selection’ at the entrance to our garden in February 2008. This bottlebrush has weeping green foliage and deep red flowers. It grows to 1.5m x 1.5m and blooms several times each year. Birds love the flowers and rip them off the bush.
Callistemon pallidus or Lemon Bottlebrush
We planted 5 Callistemon pallidus, or Lemon Bottlebrush, in February 2004. This spreading shrub can grow to 4m high and 3m across, but is smaller in our garden, about 3m high x 2m wide. The grey-green leaves are aromatic when crushed and the new growth is a silvery pink. The lemon flowers are also fragrant and bloom in clusters over a long period.
Callistemon pallidus ‘Emma’ ‘Candelabra’
Callistemon pallidus ‘Emma’ ‘ Candelabra’ is a narrow dense shrub, 3m high x 2m wide, with silver grey foliage and many yellow flowers in spring. We planted one in May 2005 and at first this shrub did not grow or flower well, but when we removed the nearby Acacia iteaphylla which had sooty mould, ‘Emma’ jumped up and flowered in November 2008.
Callistemon pearsonii ‘Rocky Rambler’
Callistemon pearsonii ‘Mimosa Creek’
Callistemon pearsonii ‘Mimosa Creek’ is a small bushy shrub to 1.5m x 1.5m, although smaller in our garden, with stiff green foliage and bronze new growth. We have seen the brilliant red flowers with gold stamens only a couple of years, as I doubt that this plant gets enough sun. Callistemon pearsonii ‘Rocky Rambler’ is a prostrate shrub, 0.3m high x 1.5m wide, with purplish new growth and deep red brushes with gold stamens. We planted one in the back garden in May 2009 and it did flower in December 2009 but only very occasionally since and was removed in 2021.
Callistemon ‘Pink Alma’
Callistemon ‘Pink Alma’ is a standout plant, a form of Callistemon viminalis, which was Shrub of the Year in 1999. This plant has a weeping habit and flowers with many bright pink flowers which fade to a paler colour. We planted one in March 2004 which flowered well in November 2010, but was felled by the falling pine in July 2016. We have planted another one to replace it in September 2019.
Callistemon pinifolius (photo below left)
Callistemon pinifolius is a low spreading bush to 1.5m high and wide, with pine like leaves and red or green brushes. We have planted 6 of these, but only two remain, as the others were crowded out. They grew too large for their positions, even though they bloomed well.
Callistemon ‘Pink Champagne’ (Photo above right)
The standout Callistemon in our garden is C. ‘Pink Champagne’, an upright tall shrub to 3m, width 2m. We first planted one in February 2004, then another in November 2005. We then planted a number of seedlings and now have at least 15 growing even after losing several when the pine fell. This plant always looks healthy, blooms at least twice a year and has the most lovely dusty pink blooms. It is also a favourite of the bowerbirds, which always have a bower under one group of these plants.
Callistemon pityoides (syn. Melaleuca pityoides) - Alpine Bottlebrush (Photos above)
For many years confused with Callistemon sieberi. Native to areas above 2000 m down to around 900 m. Grows commonly in and around sphagnum bogs and swamps and along watercourses in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. In its mountain habitat Callistemon pityoides, 3m high x 2m wide, flowers late in the season, but when it does bloom masses of small, dense, cream (rarely pink) brushes are borne on the ends of the branches. We planted three in 2003 and they have flowered reliably ever since.
Callistemon ‘Purple Cloud’ (photo below left)
We planted two Callistemon ‘Purple Cloud’ on either side of the front gate in November 2004. These began flowering in November 2007 and have continued every year since then. They have grown to 3m x 2m in size with lovely purple brushes.
Callistemon ‘Red Clusters’ (photo above right)
We planted one Callistemon ‘Red Clusters’ in October 2015. ‘Red Clusters’ forms a shrub, 3m high and wide, with long brushes of orange-red flowers.
Callistemon ‘Reeve’s Pink’
Callistemon ‘Reeve’s Pink’ was one of the survivors of the fall of the pine. We planted one in April 2006 and it has grown to 3m x 3m, with narrow elliptical leaves and clear pink flower spikes.
Callistemon ‘Rosy Dawn’
We planted Callistemon ‘Rosy Dawn’ in May 2011 on the edge of our large pond. This plant has grown enthusiastically to 2m x 1.5m with plenty of deep pink/purple brushes. We have had to cut it back on one side as it was shading a couple of choice banksias, but it remains healthy.
Callistemon salignus
Callistemon salignus - Willow Bottlebrush
We planted, in 2003, as part of our foundation planting, a hedge of 65 Callistemon salignus, Willow Bottlebrush. This plant develops into a small tree to 8m high with a dense habit, papery bark and narrow leaves with pink new growth. The flower spikes can be cream, red or pink. We have pruned these every two years and they are now 5m high and have formed a dense hedge beloved by birds. Eight of these trees were trashed by the fall of a large pine in July 2016.
Callistemon serpentinus
We planted this upright shrub that may reach a height of 4m, with yellow flowers and papery flaking bark, in September 2023. Callistemon serpentinus is a rare bottlebrush that is found just east of the Barraba district of northern New South Wales. There is a population around the Wood’s Reef asbestos mine near Barraba. This writer does not know why the species is not listed as threatened.
Callistemon sieberi pink form
We planted six of these shrubs, 2m high, with pink brushes in spring, in December 2004. They tolerate clay soil and flower several times in the year with rain.
Callistemon ‘Starlight’
Twelve Callistemon ‘Starlight’ were planted as part of our foundation planting in April 2004. Most of these have died over the years, but three remain flowering every year with large white brushes.
Callistemon subulatus ‘Brogo Overflow’
Callistemon subulatus ‘Brogo Overflow’
Another foundation plant was Callistemon subulatus. We planted seven of these in December 2003, but only one remains. It has grown into a small tree, 3m high and wide, and flowers well every year. Callistemon subulatus ‘Brogo Overflow’ , a dwarf form of C. subulatus, is incredibly successful for us. We have planted a hedge of 20 of these in June 2009. They are planted in a rather inhospitable place where the clay soil has been bulldozed up to form the lip for our large pond. In spite of the wet clay, or maybe because of it, these have prospered, and despite being cut back every year flower at least twice every year with many red brushes. The new growth is soft and pinkish silver and very inviting to the touch.
Callistemon ‘Sugar Candy’ (photos below, left two)
We have planted three of this form of C. sieberi , 3m high x 2m wide, with silvery foliage and candy pink brushes, in 2016. This plant is hardy in dry or moist sand or clay and frost tolerant. Our plants are blooming particularly well with the La Nina rain of 2022.
Callistemon ‘Tangerine Dream’ (photos above, right two)
We have planted seven of these free flowering shrubs, 2m high, with tangerine bottle brushes and new foliage which is an attractive pink colour, from 2010-16. This plant benefits from a light prune after flowering. We have removed most of these in 2018 for failure to thrive, but two remain.
Callistemon viminalis ‘Little Silver’
We planted five of these low growing shrubs, 90cm high x 75cm wide, with a bright silver sheen to the dense green foliage and bright red flowers, in December 2019. This plant will grow in full shade or part sun, in moist or dry conditions and in most soils.
Callistemon viminalis ‘Slim’
We planted this bottlebrush with a narrow growth habit, 1.5-3m high x 1.3m wide, with red flowers, in February 2020. This plant is best in full sun to part shade, and tolerates dry periods and moderate to severe frosts. Our plant has been in too much shade, but now the back hedge has been removed in 2024, it may do better.
Callistemon ‘White Anzac’ (Photos above)
We planted five of these low spreading evergreen shrubs, 1m high x 3m wide, with many white bottlebrush flowers in 2017-18. This plant is best in full sun or part shade in moist well drained soil.
