Callistemon citrinus splendens

[Susie]

Does anyone have an Australian bottle brush plant? Are the flowers any good for insects?

It looks like it should be very pollen rich to me.

[aeshna5]

These flowers have evolved to be pollinated by birds, principally species of honeyeater. I've got a small one in a pot + used to have a large one + I don't recall seeing many insects on them' they are attractive shrubs though!

[UB4 gardener]

I have an 8 footer outside my front door, this will be the first summer i have been here so as yet i don't know will find out soon enough.

Chris

[Susie]

That's a coincidence.

I bought a standard today, it is only about four feet high at the moment and I intend to keep it in a large pot so it shouldn't get that much bigger. We can compare notes when they flower.

[aeshna5]

I remember seeing some large Callistemon in Eilat + there were many yellow faced Blackcaps + Lesser Whitethroats emerging from the flowers- never seen them doing that over here though.

[Susie]

I've been looking at web pages from all over the world and it does seem that in various hot countries these plants are popular with butterflies and hummingbirds.

If global warming ever gets to the extreme that we start getting hummingbirds as migrants at least we will be ready, aeshna!

[Lords and Ladies]

Originally Posted by Susie

If global warming ever gets to the extreme that we start getting hummingbirds as migrants at least we will be ready, aeshna!

If you start seeing kangaroos in the garden it's probably time to give up on global warming and just go with the flow

I've got a small bottlebrush, Callistemon rigidis (?) I think, though I've not seen it flower yet. I suppose if they are scented they might attract a few things even if they struggle to feed when they get there. I'm ever hopeful . Nice to look at anyway.

[Susie]

My plant is looking decidely unwell.

I am not sure what is wrong with it but I planted it into the garden yesterday rather than keeping it in a pot on the patio to see if that will help.

Does anyone know if they plant suffers for any particular diseases?

[Lords and Ladies]

I think in oz they tend to be riverside shrubs/trees so maybe it's drying out too much in a pot. They seem to do well in the ground. I've not had mine long enough to know much else.

Prefers neutral to acid soil according to one of my books.

Is it flowering yet?

[Susie]

Nope, it isn't flowering yet. It looks rather sorry for itself and rather droopy so I think you may well be right and it is lack of water.

I have been watering it most evenings but it is in an extremely hot and sunny spot on the patio so it might not have been getting enough.