Callistemon is a genus of shrubs and small trees native to Australia, known as bottle brush plants. As their name suggests, they have bottlebrush-like flowers in a range of colours including red, yellow and pink. While not fully hardy, they make an interesting choice for an exotic garden, and are particularly suited to gardens in the south of the British Isles, where they are more likely to survive winter.
Alpine bottlebrush, Callistemon pityoides (syn. sieberi) is the hardiest of the callistemons. It grows naturally at high altitudes and is therefore more accustomed to lower temperatures than others in the genus. It bears narrow leaves and small, yellow flower spikes in summer.
Grow Callistemon pityoides in moist soil in full sun to partial shade. For best results, and the greatest flowering potential, grow in front of a sunny wall or in a container which you can bring indoors in autumn.
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Callistemon and wildlife
Callistemon has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
