Callistemon speciosus

RHS Plant Profile

Albany bottlebrush

Other common names

bottlebrush flower

Synonyms

Callistemon glaucus

Climber Wall Shrub Conservatory Greenhouse Shrubs

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A large shrub or small tree with stout, red-brown branches densely furnished with fragrant, stiff, leathery, thin elliptic leaves, pointed at the tip. The bottlebrush-like flowers are rich brilliant crimson with golden anthers

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Myrtaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Callistemon are evergreen shrubs with aromatic, linear to lance-shaped leaves and bottlebrush-like spikes of flowers in which the long colourful stamens are prominent
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Australia

How to Grow

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

Propagation

Propagate by seed or from semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Climber and wall shrubs
Conservatory and greenhouse

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

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects, mealybugs and glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus