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Wheeping Willow Bottle Brush
- Common Name: Weeping bottlebrush, Creek bottlebrush, Red bottlebrush
- Scientific name: Melaleuca viminalis (formerly Callistemon viminalis)
- Family name: Myrtaceae
- Origin: Eastern Australia
- Height: 15 to 20 ft
- Width: 15 to 20 ft
- Growth: Moderate
- Zone: USDA zones 9b through 11
- Light needs: Full sun
- Salt tolerance: Moderate
- Soil/pH/Texture: Soil should be moist and well-drained, preferably loamy. Soil pH should be acidic to slightly alkaline (pH 5.6-7.5)
- Moisture: Should be watered regularly to ensure that the soil does not dry out
- Drought tolerance: Moderate – it can handle dry conditions but it will be at its healthiest with plenty of water
- Pests/Diseases: Scale, thrips, mites, and sawfly may rarely occur. Root rot may occur in overly wet soil conditions.
- Growing conditions: Should be grown in full sun in moist, well-drained soil. It becomes a fairly large tree, so it should be given plenty of room to grow. It can survive in waterlogged soil, but it is not ideal, and it could potentially result in root rot. Additionally, it has brittle wood, so it should not be used as windbreak or planted in a very windy area.
- Characteristics: This small tree typically grows up to 20 ft tall, but some have been reported to be over 30 ft tall. Its bark is fibrous, brittle, and furrowed. Its crown grows in a “weeping” shape similar to that of a weeping willow, with long branches that droop towards the ground. Leaves have an alternate arrangement, are very narrow and elliptical, and grow densely along the branches. Flowers are bright red and spiky, almost brush-like, and grow on the ends of branches. Fruits are small, woody, cup-like capsules.
- Propagation: By seeds or stem cuttings
- Wildlife: The flowers provide food for nectar-eating animals such as butterflies and bees.
- Facts: Its roots help prevent erosion in areas prone to flooding, improving the water quality of nearby streams and rivers. It is commonly used as a street tree due to its smog tolerance.
- Designer considerations: Its bright flowers and weeping growth habit make it a good choice to plant near a street or walkway. If planted near a street its branches should be trimmed occasionally to prevent them from blocking the way. It is also a good choice for a screen plant because of its long, trailing branches and dense leaves.
Wheeping Willow Bottle Brush
Location
Pavilion, Walkways & Garden Areas