Bottle brush shrubs bloom from mid-spring through midsummer.
The bottle brush shrub, Callistemon citrinus, is an evergreen that grows to a height and spread of 5 to 20 feet. The shrub is native to areas of Australia and grows best in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11, where there is little risk of frost that damages the plant. Bottle brush produces cylinder-shaped, brush-like flowers that are in bloom from mid-spring through midsummer. The brightly colored flowers are attractive to hummingbirds and bees.
Instructions
1. Select a planting location that has a well-draining soil and full sunlight for a minimum of eight hours each day. Bottle brush plants grow well in a sandy or clay loam soil.
2. Test the soil pH prior to planting the bottle brush to verify it is 5.5 to 6.5. Work ground rock sulfur into the soil to lower the pH and make it more acidic at least two weeks prior to planting.
3. Provide supplemental water to the bottle brush plant during the hot summer months to keep the soil moist when the weekly rainfall is less than 1 inch. Apply deep-water soakings to moisten the soil to a depth of 10 inches. Use a soaker hose or place a water-filled five-gallon bucket with a small hole drilled at the bottom at the base of the plant.
4. Apply a 3- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch over the root ball of the bottle brush plant to assist with water retention and prevent weed growth that competes with soil moisture. Leave a 4- to 6-inch gap between the stem of the plant and start of the mulch.
5. Fertilize the bottle brush plant by applying a balanced water-soluble fertilizer to the soil over the root ball area of the plant. Follow the package instructions for an application rate based on the size of the plant.
6. Prune the bottle brush plant in early spring to maintain the shape and size of the plant. Never remove more than 1/3 of the branch growth as this can reduce the plant health.
7. Monitor the bottle brush plant for the presence of yellow leaves due to plant chlorosis from iron deficiency in the soil. Treat the soil with iron chelate or iron sulfate to reverse the systems.
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