S & J Nursery’s Guide to Growing
Bottlebrush ‘Red Cluster’
in the Northeast Florida Landscape
(callistemon citrinus ‘Red Cluster’)
Bottlebrush Origins:
– native to Australia
Bottlebrush Red Cluster Preferred Exposure:
– full sun to light shade
Bottlebrush Red Cluster Foliage | Bark:
– Evergreen foliage is narrow and 3 inches in length, new growth comes out a coppery red color and matures to a bright green
Bottlebrush Red Cluster Soil Preference / Salt Tolerance:
– Lemon bottlebrushes ( callistemon citrinus) are the most tolerant of heat, cold, as well as a wide range of soil conditions.
– drought tolerant once established, however bottlebrush will need consistent water during the establishment period after planting
– bottlebrush are highly salt tolerant
BottleBrush Red Cluster Size Variance:
– Red Cluster Bottlebrush trees can be used as a privacy hedge screen and pruned when small to form a 10-15 ft H x W evergreen barrier or pruned up and allowed to grow into a tree form that could reach as tall as 15-25 ft H
– They can be left to grow with multiple trunks, or trained when young as a
single stem patio tree for small space gardens.
Bottlebrush Red Cluster Growth Habit:
– upright habit with lush full growth
Red Cluster Bottlebrush Growth Rate:
– extremely fast growth rate, makes an excellent privacy block or screen
Bottlebrush Red Cluster Bloom:
– Bright red elongated blooms resemble a baby bottle brush giving the plant its common name. Bottlebrush will bloom, set buds and rebloom throughout the year.
Bottlebrush Water Requirements:
-Drought tolerant once established in the landscape. Water extremely well for the first few weeks to months when first planted depending on the size of the tree when installed to eliminate transplant shock. Larger trees require longer periods of supplemental irrigation to establish themselves in the landscape and begin to grow and thrive on their own.
Butterfly or Bird Attracting:
– Attractive to both butterflies and hummingbirds in the North Florida |
Jacksonville | St. Augustine area gardens and landscaped areas.
Best Uses For Bottlebrush Red Cluster:
– Bottlebrush is a great choice for a privacy screen or large hedge row to block out unsightly sheds, garages or views. Pruned up and allowed to grow as a tree form, bottlebrush make and excellent care free smaller
scale ornamental tree. Drought tolerant once established but also will make a good choice for consistently moist soils.
Care of Bottlebrush Red Cluster:
– water every day during the establishment period, a bottlebrush tree allowed to dry out during the establishment period runs a high risk of shock, leaves will turn a light tan color and if water is re-applied
consistently the leaves will drop and new leaves begin to form within a months time. DO NOT ignore WATERING DAILY ON A NEW BOTTLEBRUSH PLANTING. See watering your newly planted trees for more information.
– they will need good water during the establishment period.
– provide a 1 ft diameter circle of mulched area where grass is kept from growing for each inch of caliper (or diameter) of trunk measured 4 inches from the ground level.
– fertilize each spring and summer with a mixture of milorganite and a slow realease poly coated plant food such as Osmocote or Stay Green general purpose plant food, sprinkling the fertilizer around the mulch circle
underneath the foliage of the tree or hedge.