Aussie Bottlebrush

[nightshade]

Does anyone grow Bottlebrush? apparantly Sparrows like the nectar

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Does anyone grow Bottlebrush? apparantly Sparrows like the nectar

There are various 'bottlebrush' plants - not all closely related. I grow a Callistemon - very flashy but I've never seen a sparrow, other bird, indeed any insect on it! I'll look further ....

[Marc]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Does anyone grow Bottlebrush? apparantly Sparrows like the nectar

Many red or orange coloured flowers, particularly from North America or the Southern Hemisphere, are bird-pollinated in their country of origin, typically by Hummingbirds in North and South America, and Sunbirds in South Africa, and do not readily appeal to our insect pollinators. Red Hot Pokers (Kniphophias), Lobelia cardinalis, Fuchsias and many of the Proteaceae plant family are typical examples, but there are many others.
Although I have both a Callistemon and House Sparrows in the garden, I have never seen them drinking nectar from it. However they do regularly take nectar from my Phormium (a bird-pollinated plant from New Zealand) and I have seen a Blue Tit in my garden drink nectar from a Kniphophia.
I don't grow many of these exotics in the garden because I like to encourage bees.

Marc Carlton

[Paul mabbott]

Hello, Marc and welcome.
I thought that bees were attracted to these - I'll go and check when it stops raining!
Anyone have any idea which species this is?


On the general topic of 'bee plants' - I'm always impressed by the numbers of Bombus and other bees on various species of Allium that I grow - much preferred to nearby lavender, oregano, other labiates and, indeed, any other flowering plant ....

Originally Posted by Marc

Many red or orange coloured flowers, particularly from North America or the Southern Hemisphere, are bird-pollinated in their country of origin, typically by Hummingbirds in North and South America, and Sunbirds in South Africa, and do not readily appeal to our insect pollinators. Red Hot Pokers (Kniphophias), Lobelia cardinalis, Fuchsias and many of the Proteaceae plant family are typical examples, but there are many others.
Although I have both a Callistemon and House Sparrows in the garden, I have never seen them drinking nectar from it. However they do regularly take nectar from my Phormium (a bird-pollinated plant from New Zealand) and I have seen a Blue Tit in my garden drink nectar from a Kniphophia.
I don't grow many of these exotics in the garden because I like to encourage bees.

Marc Carlton

[nightshade]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

There are various 'bottlebrush' plants - not all closely related. I grow a Callistemon - very flashy but I've never seen a sparrow, other bird, indeed any insect on it! I'll look further ....

The Welsh National Gardens report that sparrows are adapting to bottlebrush nectar
saw it in a trailer /ad the other day

[Marc]

Paul,
From the leaves (just visible in the picture) I'd say this is Callistemon linearis. That is the hardiest species, and is the most commonly grown in Britain. I find that honeybees sometimes visit mine, but bumblebees really struggle with it.
Marc

[Kayleigh]

My neighbour brought me some seeds back from OZ. On the packet it said you have to use smoke water to get them to germinate. I don't smoke how can I get smoke water any ideas

[aeshna5]

When I was in Eilat some years back the Callistemon (possibly C. citrinus) in the park were full of yellow-faced Blackcaps + Lesser Whitethroats visiting the flowers.

[Purplepixii]

I have a vibrant red bottlebrush plant next to my (mighty and in need of pruning) buddleia. Whilst I have seen bees, moths & butterflies on the buddleia, I have only ever seen honey bees on the bottlebrush.

Purplepixii