Description

Willow Bottlebrush (Callistemon salignus) is a dense canopied tree with creamy white, red, or pink bottlebrush flowers that emerge in the spring and summer. This tree is native to Australia and does extremely well in California-friendly gardens. It can reach up to 50’ tall and 30' wide but can be kept smaller with the help of a licensed arborist. This tree is typically a single trunk, and the canopy can be thinned out to allow sunlight into the interior, which will encourage more blooming. Maintenance on the tree is low, but the leaf and flower litter may require more upkeep. This tree is best planted in a location where the leaf and flower droppings can stay in place and become part of the mulch. If there are under-plantings or this tree is over a seating area, it is not uncommon for everything underneath to become covered with fallen flower petals. This tree should be planted at least five feet away from any hardscape areas, 10 feet from structures such as houses and buildings, and not near any powerlines. Shrubs and perennials should be planted about five feet away from this tree. It should be irrigated for about 45 minutes once a week when using most in-line drip irrigation systems.