Northern Beaches FloraBaby Sun Rose Blowfly Grass (Briza maxima) Bottlebrushes Coastal Morning Glory (Ipomoea indica) Cyathea cooperi Grevillea ‘Peaches and Cream’ Grevillea Poorinda Royal Mantle Native Violet Norfolk Pine Ochna Pigface Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) Scurvy Weed Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) Spiny-headed Mat-rush
The Crimson Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus) is found growing naturally in New South Wales, Victoria and southern Queensland, and is a shrub/tree that can grow up to 3 metres in height.
Being a hardy and adaptable species, Callistemon citrinus is the most widely cultivated member of the genus, not only in Australia, but overseas. It was taken to be cultivated in England in 1770 by Joseph Banks.
Callistemon citrinus has given rise to many of the cultivars that are seen in gardens, sometimes as hybrids with other Callistemon species. Some of these cultivars have arisen as chance seedlings rather than by deliberate hybridisation.
Cultivars of C. citrinus include the “Burgundy” (purple-red), “Endeavour” (red), “Mauve Mist” (mauve), “Reeves Pink” (pink) and “White Anzac” (white).
Callistemons are popular with a variety of insects and birds. Next time you a Callistemon, look closely to see if you can see birds or insects enjoying the nectar.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Charophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Subclass: Magnoliidae
- Superorder: Rosanae
- Order: Myrtales
- Family: Myrtaceae
- Genus: Callistemon
- Species: Callistemon citrinus
Footnote & References
- Many thanks for species ID to Kirstina Bray and Peter Dunstan reference to the cultivar Captain Cook and other members of Australian Indigenous Plant Identification Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1469859343324569/
- Callistemon citrinus, Crimson Bottlebrush, Australian Plants Society NSW, https://resources.austplants.com.au/plant/callistemon-citrinus-syn-melaleuca-citrina/
- Callistemon citrinus (syn. Melaleuca citrina), Australian Native Plants Society (Australia), https://anpsa.org.au/plant_profiles/callistemon-citrinus-syn-melaleuca-citrina/
- Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels Crimson Bottlebrush, Flora of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/854224ac-ba1d-4020-9fed-e483a7d22cbb
- Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels, Common Red Bottlebrush, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2899547
Northern Beaches FloraBaby Sun Rose Blowfly Grass (Briza maxima) Bottlebrushes Coastal Morning Glory (Ipomoea indica) Cyathea cooperi Grevillea ‘Peaches and Cream’ Grevillea Poorinda Royal Mantle Native Violet Norfolk Pine Ochna Pigface Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) Scurvy Weed Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) Spiny-headed Mat-rush
Northern BeachesNorthern Beaches Fauna Northern Beaches Flora
New South WalesBarunguba Montague Island Bourke Blue Mountains Bundeena Central Coast Kosciuszko National Park Mount Kaputar National Park Lower North Shore Northern Beaches Sapphire Coast Snowy Mountains Region South Coast Stony Range Regional Botanic Garden Sydney