Callistemon viminalis

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Plant
ID 148 Callistemon viminalis
Botanic Name Callistemon viminalis
Common Name Red Bottlebrush, Weeping Bottlebrush
Family Name Myrtaceae
Cultivars 'Caption Cook', 'Hannah Ray', 'Little John', 'Dawson River', 'Prolific','King's Park Special', 'Pendula'
Origin Australia, East Coast, Zone 9-12
Growth Type Tree
Bark Type Furrowed
Foliage Type Evergreen Water Use Medium
No. of Species 34
Growth Habit Medium dome Growth Rate Fast
Height 7 - 10 m (23 - 33 ft) Spread 6 m (20 ft)
Plant Overview
This small tree has an elegant and weeping habit with many slender branches that form an open crown. It has dark green lanced-shaped leaves that are pinkish when young and red bottlebrush-like flowers appear during spring.
Leaf
Type Simple Additional Information
Shape Lanceolate
The new soft pubescent lanceolate leaves are pinkish becoming dark green with age and mature leaves are up to 10 mm (3/8 in) wide by 90 mm (3 ½ in) long. They are slightly pubescent with an acute apex and a short petiole.
Arrangement Alternate
Margin Entire
Colour Dark green
Size 65 - 90 mm ( 2.6 - 3.5 in )
Flower
Perfume Odorless Additional Information
Shape Cyathiform
The cyathiform flowers have a short calyx tube with 5 small decidious calyx lobes and 5 rounded petals. The numerious red stamens are arranged in a whorl and the flowers appear in a cylindrical spike. The main flowering period is in early spring.
Inflorescence Spike
Colour Red
Size 7 - 10 mm ( 0.3 - 0.4 in )
Flowering in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fruit
Type Capsule Additional Information
Colour Brown
It is a small round cup-shaped woody capsule is up to 7 mm m(¼ in) wide with 3 to 4 cells that contain tiny brown seeds that are very viable.The capsules are not persistent on the plant.
Edible No
Bird Attractive Yes
Size 5 - 7 mm ( 0.2 - 0.3 in )
Fruiting in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Environment & Cultivation
Natural Soil Well drained, moderately fertile, moist, sandy-stony to clay loam, pH 5.5-7.5
Container Tubs, planter boxes and roof gardens with frost protection
Climate Warm to sub-tropical
Aspect Full sun to part shade, temporary inundation, frost tender, drought tolerant
Pest & Diseases Sooty mould, red scale, cup moth, borer, scale, frog hopper, grey mould, myrtle rust
Fertiliser Light application of native plant food after flowering when young, mulch and keep moist
Pruning Tolerates a light to hard prune after flowering to thicken up, moderately deer resistant
Cultural Uses Propagation
Weeping Bottlebrush is grown for its attractive flowers and is used in street or border plantings or as a windbreak, erosion control, shade, and water absorbing in damp areas. It tolerates 2nd line salt and is a tough plant establishing in 3 years.
Surface sow fresh seed thinly during spring and prick out when large enough to handle. Take soft tip cuttings during summer of non-flowering shoots.
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