Bottlebrush

[feijoa]

I've searched and searched google and there isn't much info on Bottlebrush 'red cluster' or 'woodlanders hardy'. was wondering if anyone knew the specs on these. stuff like growth, full sun or part shade, soil type, hardiness, etc.

if not familar with these, can anyone shed light on bottlebrush in general. i've heard/read they're anything from fast growers to slow, which says nothing.

any help appreicated!

[Walter John]

(feijoa @ May 13 2007,07:50)

QUOTE

I've searched and searched google and there isn't much info on Bottlebrush 'red cluster' or 'woodlanders hardy'. was wondering if anyone knew the specs on these. stuff like growth, full sun or part shade, soil type, hardiness, etc.

if not familar with these, can anyone shed light on bottlebrush in general. i've heard/read they're anything from fast growers to slow, which says nothing.

any help appreicated!

Ah ha, my turn for a favour, I know a fair bit about these plants because we have so many native here. I assume they are calistemon you are talking about, if so, full sun and leave them be, no fertiliser, water a few times on planting (2 or three times) and let them be. Easiest plants to grow here that's for sure, those and grevilleas. Soil should be somewhat sandy though.

[DavePoole]

Callistemons are quite popular over here in the UK with C. rigidus and its hybrids probably being the most common since they are amongst the most hardy.  They are planted as wall and specimen plants and provided they are pruned immediately after flowering, many appear to be well suited for informal hedges.  The great thing about Callistemons is that most can be cut back very hard into old wood and will re-sprout in no time at all.  If top growth is killed by hard frosts, there's always a very good chance of new shoots appearing from below ground level.  Provided of course that the roots haven't been frozen solid.

'Red Cluster' is sold here and eventually develops into a large, dense shrub to 10ft. or so, although it is most frequently seen at just below shoulder height.  Growth rates vary with growing conditions, but I suppose you could expect about 8 - 12" per year, maybe more.  Dwarfer varieties can be much slower, but neither of your plants fall into that category.  They seem to do best on very sharply drained soils, but from personal experience they also appreciate additional watering in summer for the fastest growth.  As Wal says, full sun for best results.  They can tolerate some shade, but flowering suffers.  

I grow just one nowadays on account of space restrictions.  Callistemon citrinus splendens has reached 10ft here and been cut back on several occasions.  To my mind it is the best red having very large cylindrical spikes of the most intense, bright scarlet flowers with flashy, contrasting golden anthers.  Buds are breaking at the moment and within a week it will be a mass of an almost painfully brilliant colour.  Unfortunately it is also relatively tender and not suited to regions with prolonged cold spells in winter.

[chris.oz]

Dave,

Funny to hear you talking about callistemons being frozen to the ground,  I guess we just take if for granted...... these things grow like weeds here,  but there are cultivars that are definitely better looking than plain old callistemon citrinis.

These grow quite well from cuttings also.

[bahia]

Sounds like the cultivar name Woodlanders would indicate this as a selection from Woodlanders Nursery, which I think is in South Carolina?  You might also look into seeing what Callistemon species and cultivars are being grown at the Raulston Arboretum in North Carolina, for more info and direct info on which species and cultivars are doing best in east coast USA conditions.  Not all species and cultivars are equally hardy or stand up as well to extended summer heat and humidity and winter cold.  I would expect in any case that full sun locations with very well drained soils and good air circulation would be beneficial for any cultivar, and if not fully hardy in your area, planting it next to a south facing house wall or underneath a protecting roof overhang would be good.  I am willing to bet you will find more info on these by researching the nursery catalogue for Woodlanders and also the JC Raulston Arboretum info.

[DoomsDave]

Here's a link for woodlander's hardy Callistemon

CLICK HERE FOR LINK

[DoomsDave]

Here's a link for woodlander's hardy Callistemon

CLICK HERE FOR LINK

[DavePoole]

(chris.oz @ May 15 2007,12:48)

QUOTE

Dave,

Funny to hear you talking about callistemons being frozen to the ground,  I guess we just take if for granted...... these things grow like weeds here,  but there are cultivars that are definitely better looking than plain old callistemon citrinis.

These grow quite well from cuttings also.

Chris, the only time I've known Callistemons to suffer is during the last big freeze in the UK during winter '81/82.  Temps regularly went down to -16C at night where I was living and rarely rose to above minus 5C. by day.  It lasted for nearly 3 weeks and caused monumental damage.  A large C. linearis I had growing against a house wall was defoliated and lost about 50% of its top growth.  Smaller plants I had in containers on the nursery were wiped out.  From what I've read, some Callistemons can lose some or all of their top growth in certain US states and it was to this that I was referring.

As to Callistemon citrinus, I agree that the straight species is very ordinary with relatively dull red flowers and rather chunky, inelegant growth.  However, the variety 'Splendens' is extremely bright with much better, vivid scarlet flowers that are more than a match for any of the red flowered hybrids I've seen.  I like the new growth as well - bright pinkish bronze with a silvery sheen caused by the silky hairs on the young leaves.  It seems to be a rather looser grower with longer, more lax stems, although this may be more to do with the very humid growing conditions here than anything else.