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Shrubs

Callistemon rugulosus

An evergreen shrub to 4m, with pointed, lance-shaped leaves to 8cm long. In summer it produces 15cm long, red bottlebrush-like flowers with yellow-tipped stamens

Synonyms

Callistemon laevis hort.

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

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)

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: S & E Australia

How to grow

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

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring, or root semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Low Maintenance
Banks and slopes
Conservatory and greenhouse
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

See pruning group 8; tolerates hard pruning and may require restrictive pruning when grown under glass

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insect, mealy bug and glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus

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