Callistemon citrinus

Native range: Vic, NSW, Qld Height: 1-3 m Width: 2-3 m Flowering: Summer to autumn, and sporadically throughout the year. Fruiting: Summer to autumn Light: Full sun Growth rate: Moderate to fast Soils: Will row on most soil types Drought tolerance: Moderate Landscape position: Watercourses and swamp margins Rainfall range: 600 – 1000 mm Benefits: Yellow Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus) is a native, evergreen fast-growing shrub or small tree species, found in swamps and along creek lines in nature. It has a medium lifespan of around fifty years. Extremely versatile and hardy, Lemon Bottlebrush can grow in most soils and will withstand low levels of salinity, frost, drought, wind and air pollution.  Callistemon citrinus can be used in shelterbelts as a low to mid-level planting to slow wind speeds and provide pollinator and bird habitat. The large bottlebrush flowers are rich in nectar and pollen and attractive to a wide range of insects, including honeybees, and nectar-feeding birds such as honeyeaters and parrots. It can be used in erosion management and in dam plantings.  Useful in garden, landscape and street plantings, there are many commercially available varieties, with a range of growth forms, and flower colour ranging from white, to pink, red and purple. It can be planted as informal hedges where it can provide privacy screening, and can be maintained as a compact shrub, multi-stemmed or standard tree, or formal hedge by pruning. The new growth emerging after pruning is soft and pink coloured. The common and scientific names refer to the citrus-like scent of oils in the leaves. These oils also contribute to flammability and Lemon Bottlebrush can be a fire risk, so avoid plantings close to structures or manage plants by keeping their form compact and dense. The timber is generally poor quality and prone to cracking but can be used in small craft items such as pen blanks. It is poor quality firewood. Drawbacks: High fire risk. Roots can invade pipes. Litter can be a pedestrian hazard. Plants grown from seed will vary from cultivars. Uses: Ornamental and landscaping use in parklands, gardens and street plantings Shelterbelts Habitat for native biodiversity Propagation:  From seed or semi-hardwood cuttings. Weed risk: None Future climate risks:  Lack of flowering, slow growth during extended dry years and heatwaves. Branch dieback, limb drop and death of plants in dry, exposed sites. Increase of disease and insect attack die to uneven climate. References AVH (2022). The Australasian Virtual Herbarium, Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria, https://avh.chah.org.au PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney – https://shorturl.at/efsWZ Plant Selector+ – https://shorturl.at/cgoV8 Fire retardant garden plants for the urban fringe and rural areas – https://shorturl.at/mtFKL Image credits Callistemon_citrinus-0878 By DirkHoffmann - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://shorturl.at/nqtLQ Callistemon_citrinus_2 By JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://shorturl.at/klARY Callistemon_citrinus_(6367566465) By Dinesh Valke from Thane, India - Callistemon citrinus, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://shorturl.at/iINP5 Callistemon citrinus leaf_8738560224_83d2ff18f7_k_ By_John_Tan_CC BY 2.0 https://shorturl.at/sHORU Callistemon citrinus capsules _8737436439_7ac41c2f65_k By_John_Tan_CC BY 2.0 https://shorturl.at/krLW1