Family Myrtaceae
Originating from Australia
- Compact, with glossy evergreen foliage, forming a low-rounded shrub.
- Intense yellow-gold bottlebrush flowers are borne in profusion in summer.
- Vigorous and easy to grow in full sun and well-drained soil.
Dark, glossy evergreen, aromatic foliage with lighter green undersides creates the perfect backdrop for the intensely deep golden-yellow flowers. It forms a compact, densely branched, bushy small shrub, setting it apart from other Callistemons that can become wide and open specimens if not pruned. Its aromatic foliage also has a darker shade of green than many other bottlebrushes, which typically have olive green leaves. It is useful among taller architectural plants, particularly in coastal and Mediterranean gardens where its shape can serve as a soft and rounded counterfoil for taller spiky species.
The early-season floral display is profuse and richly colored, with masses of stamens held stiffly on the new shoots, creating a striking golden display of blooms that are loved by all pollinators. The flowers are topped by soft and silky new leaves as the new growth continues to shoot beyond the flower. Below them are seed pods from the previous season, a tough and woody oval shape, firmly attached to the branches, awaiting a bush fire to trigger germination. Late-season sporadic flushes of flowers can occur during hot seasons.
One of the hardier and tougher Callistemons, it is a rare, strongly growing variety, easy to cultivate, great in pots, in full sun, and in any soil.
Height and spread after 5 – 10 years 1.5m x 1.5m.
