Callistemon subulatus

RHS Plant Profile
dwarf bottlebrush

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A shrubby, slightly lax and weeping shrub with narrow, green fragrant foliage. Bright red, bottlebrush-like flowers appear in summer. May be a very free-flowering variety

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
SE 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
  • Coastal
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Patio and container plants
  • 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