Callistemon salignus

RHS Plant Profile

pink tips

John Fielding

Other common names

white bottlebrush, willow bottlebrush

Trees Shrubs

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A small half-hardy evergreen tree or shrub to a height of up to 4m, with narrow dark green leaves and reddish new growth. Creamy white 'bottlebrush'-shaped flowers appear from late spring to midsummer. The foliage is lemon scented and the bark a papery white

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Sand, Loam

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Sand Loam

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

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): H2

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 frost-free, sheltered position in full sun with a moist but well-drained soil. Ideal for an unheated, but frost-free conservatory or greenhouse. If planting in a container, use a well-drained peat-free mix with 20% by volume of horticultural grit added

Propagation

Propagate by seed or from semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
City and courtyard gardens
Gravel garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Sub-tropical
Low Maintenance
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

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

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus