Bottle Brush (Callistemon citrinus) – Flowering plants

Bottle Brush (Callistemon citrinus) is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1 and 3 meters in height. Its leaves are 3 – 7 cm long and 5 – 8 mm wide. The word citrina in its scientific name is because the leaves give off a fragrance of lemon when bruised. Blossoms feature numerous bushy bright red stamens in rounded to cylindrical spikes that resemble bottlebrushes. Blossoms are attractive to bees. The seed capsules appear in clusters along the stems, are woody, cup-shaped, and about 7 mm wide. Initially, they are green but on maturity the become grey colored.

Scientific classification:

Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Callistemon
Species: C. citrinus.
Scientific Name: Callistemon citrinus
Synonyms: Metrosideros citrina, Callistemon lanceolatus, Melaleuca citrina
Common Names: Bottle Brush, Crimson Bottlebrush, Red Bottlebrush, Lemon Bottlebrush.

How to grow and maintain Bottle Brush (Callistemon citrinus):

Light:
It thrives best in full sun. A sunroom or a sunny spot directly in front of a window is ideal.

Soil:
It grows best in moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Use two parts potting mix and one part sharp sand.

Water:
Water thoroughly spring through fall and allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. In winter, water sparingly but do not
let it dry out completely.

Temperature:
It prefers average room temperatures 60°F – 75°F / 16°C – 24°C.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize once a month during spring and summer with high-potassium liquid fertilizer diluted by half.

Propagation:
It can be easily propagated by seed, stem tip cuttings. Sow seed in spring. Take 7 cm stem tip cuttings in spring or early summer.

Pests and Diseases:
Bottle Brush has no serious insect or disease problems. Watch for spider mites and scale, particularly on indoor plants.