Callistemon 'Bottlebrush'

Planting Advice for Callistemon Bottlebrush

• Generally unfussy as to soil, poor soil benefits from the addition of plenty of organic matter.
• Once established plants don't need special attention and are generally problem-free.
• Pot-grown trees can be planted at any time of the year as long as the soil is not waterlogged or frozen.
• Dig a square planting hole 3 x wider than the roots of the shrub you're planting and mix some well-rotted compost or manure with the soil from the hole and use this to re-fill once the shrub is in place.
• Before planting soak container-grown shrubs thoroughly and allow to drain.
• Remove your Callistemon from its pot and tease out a few of the roots.
• Add Mycorrhizal fungi to the roots when planting to help plants establish quicker.
• Place your tree in the hole at the same level at the pot, refill, firm, and water well.
• Mulch around the base of the plant.
• Plants can also be grown in a pot using a good quality soil-based compost.

Aftercare Advice for your Bottlebrush

• Although drought-tolerant, Callistemon requires regular watering.
• Feed with a general-purpose liquid feed in the growing season and top dress in the spring.
• Callistemon can get out of hand under glass so restrictive pruning may be necessary to keep their shape.
• Half-hardy in the UK, so in very exposed sites, a fleece cover and mulch will be required to see them safely through the winter, or potted plants can be moved to a cool conservatory or greenhouse.

Pruning Advice for Callistemon

• Lightly prune after flowering to keep them under control, cutting just behind the spent bloom.
• Callistemons in general don't like hard-pruning, so just remove spent flowerheads immediately after flowering, or trim new growth to maintain shape.