A layer of mulch over the root zone will slow the evaporation of water and help prevent weeds. Water young trees weekly in the absence of rain, applying the water slowly to saturate the soil as deeply as possible. Once established, bottlebrush plants tolerate drought and moderate salt spray.Ĭallistemon bottlebrush care consists of regular watering while the tree is young and annual fertilization until it matures. If the soil is very poor, enrich with compost at planting time. The plants aren’t picky about the soil type as long as it is well drained. Outdoors, plant bottlebrush shrubs in a sunny location. If you plan to let the shrub grow, you’ll need a large tub. If pruned hard every year, the plants will grow in pots as small as 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm.) in diameter. Use a rich, peaty potting soil with a few handfuls of sand added to improve the drainage. If you live in an area cooler than USDA plant hardiness zones 8b through 11, grow bottlebrush in pots that you can move to a protected area for winter. sieberi, which has light yellow flower spikes.īottlebrush plants need a very mild climate. Most bottlebrush varieties bloom over a long summer season in shades of red or crimson. Grow them as shrubs or small trees that grow up to 15 feet (4.5 m.). Bottlebrush plants ( Callistemon spp.) get their name from the spikes of flowers that bloom at the ends of the stems, bearing a strong resemblance to a bottle brush.

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