Episode: Ten
Date: 10th May 2008
Presenter: Neville Passmore
Story Title: Bottlebrush

A love affair that is close to The Garden Gurus hearts is native plants. Despite what some gardeners may believe native Australian plants are some of the easiest plants to grow. Check out a fabulous range of hardy, foliage and colour spectaculars that Aussies are proud to call their own.

Featured Plant: Rosy Morn (Callistemon sp. nova aff pallidus)

Bottlebrush flowers are always a lovely sight, but Rosy Morn™ also excels with its buds.  A long anticipation period is the bonus as they develop, the pink and silvery bracts are as eye-catching as the opening flowers.

Habit, Size & Flowering

• A dense compact shrub
• 60cm - 1m H x 1m W
• Silvery-purple new foliage, aging to grey-green
• Buds covered in beautiful red bracts
• Misty-purple brushes
• Flowers from spring to early summer
• Honeyeaters and other small birds flock to the nectar-rich brushes.

Water, Climate & Soils

• Low water needs when established

• Cool temperate to sub tropical and semi arid climates
• Dry, moist or seasonally wet clay or sandy loams, neutral to acid pH
• Full sun or light shade
• Very frost tolerant
• Suitable for coastal and inland gardens   

 Landscape Uses

• Low hedging
• Group beneath taller screening plants

• Combine with mixed bird attracting plantings
• Plant in multiples for landscape impact

Maintenance

• Controlled release low phosphorus fertilizer around root zone
• Feed in early spring or late summer
• Trim off spent flowers in summer
• Light pruning as required and to promote dense new growth
• Clip regularly for hedging
• Minimal maintenance once established

Featured Plant: Mary MacKillop (Callistemon viminalis x Callistemon "Endeavour")

One of the best bottlebrushes you can choose to bring all kinds of honeyeaters into your garden. Masses of bloom throughout spring and early summer, and with a little summer watering, the season extends to autumn and early winter.  That’s Flora for Fauna for sure.  Mary MacKillop sets very little seed, which in turn means the branches do not elongate excessively.  Maintenance is very simple.

Habit, Size & Flowering

• A dense lightly weeping medium shrub
• 2 - 2.5m H x 1 - 2m W
• Bright glossy leaves and lettuce green new growth
• Large cardinal red brushes
• Flowers from spring to early summer, again in autumn to early winter
• Honeyeaters and other small birds flock to the nectar-rich brushes.

Water, Climate & Soils

• Low water needs when established
• Cool temperate to sub tropical and semi arid climates with adequate water
• Well drained, moist or seasonally wet clay or sandy loams, neutral to acid pH
• Full sun or light shade
• Moderately frost tolerant
• Suitable for coastal and inland gardens

Landscape Uses

• Colourful hedging, screening or boundary planting
• Avenue planting in formal setting
• A shapely specimen suited to formal gardens
• Spectacular in a large container, especially when repeat planted
• Stunning when grouped in broad landscapes

• Combine with mixed bird attracting plantings
• Suitable for streetscapes

Maintenance

• Controlled release low phosphorus fertilizer around root zone
• Feed in early spring or late summer
• Trim off spent flowers regularly in summer
• Light pruning as required and to promote dense new growth
• Clip regularly for hedging
• Minimal maintenance once established
• Choose premium quality Australian standard potting mix suitable for native plants if planting in containers

Featured Plant: Silver Cloud (Callistemon pallidus ‘Bonang’)

Silver foliage belongs in every landscape and garden design.  When a flush of soft lemon brushes is added, it’s a beautiful picture.  A maximum hardiness rating and bird attraction puts Silver Cloud on every must-have list.

Habit, Size & Flowering

• A dense shrub
• 1.8m H x 1.5m W
• Striking silver-grey foliage and plum-coloured new growth
• Masses of perfumed creamy yellow flowers
• Flowers from spring to early summer
• Honeyeaters and other small birds flock to the nectar-rich brushes.

Water, Climate & Soils

• Low water needs when established
• Temperate to sub tropical and semi arid climates
• Moist or seasonally wet clay or sandy loams, neutral to acid pH
• Full sun or light shade
• Very frost tolerant
• Suitable for coastal and inland gardens

Landscape Uses

• A lovely small specimen or amongst mixed bird attracting plantings
• Plant for narrow screening or hedging
• Plant in multiples as a background or edging for water areas
• Foliage contrast of particular Impact

Maintenance

• Controlled release low phosphorus fertilizer around root zone
• Feed in early spring or late summer
• Light pruning as required and to promote dense new growth
• Clip regularly for hedging
• Minimal maintenance once established

Featured Plant: Genoa Glory (Callistemon forresterae 'Susan')
The lovely Genoa Glory displays its vibrant brushes for all the honeyeaters in the district, and butterflies and other nectar-seeking fauna find these flowers irresistible.  Wherever it is planted, it is a crowd stopper   ~  Perfect Flora for Fauna

Habit, Size & Flowering

• A compact shrub
• 1.5 - 2.5m H x 1.2 - 2m W
• Single or multi-stemmed, with light papery bark
• Dense grey-green foliage
• Numerous glossy purple-maroon brushes
• Blooms in spring and autumn

Water, Climate & Soils

• Low water needs when established
• Cool temperate to sub tropical and semi arid (with additional moisture) climates
• Moist clay or sandy loams, neutral to acid pH
• Full sun or light shade
• Very frost tolerant
• Suitable for coastal positions

Landscape Uses

• Plant as a showy specimen or in groups
• Around pools
• For screening and hedging
• In streetscapes and open parkland

Maintenance

• Controlled release low phosphorus fertilizer around root zone
• Feed in early spring or late summer
• Light pruning of  foliage to shape after flowering
• Remove spent flowers regularly
• Minimal maintenance once established

Featured Plant: Four Seasons (Callistemon Hannah Ray x C. Endeavour)

Four Seasons weeps almost to the ground, displaying its flower clusters at the ends of the branches.  It flowers regularly throughout the year, sets very little seed, and maintenance is very simple.  Just snip off the spent flowers and wait for the next flush of buds to develop.

Habit, Size & Flowering

• A dense medium shrub
• 1.8 - 2m H x 1.5 -1.8m W
• A low branching habit and pendulous foliage
• Huge bunches of crimson-pink flowers
• Can bloom throughout the year, predominantly spring and autumn
• Nectar-rich flowers provide plentiful food for honeyeaters, while wrens and other small insect feeders will feast off the insects attracted to the flowers.

Water, Climate & Soils

• Low water needs when established
• Cool temperate to sub tropical and semi arid climates
• Moist clay or sandy loams, neutral to acid pH
• Full sun or light shade
• Moderately frost tolerant
• Suitable for second line coastal positions

Landscape Uses

• Plant for compact hedging
• Specimen planting or mixed with other shrubs
• Beneath taller screening plants
• Suitable for street tree planting
• Spectacular when clustered along shoreline of large water areas
• Plant beside smaller ponds

Maintenance

• Controlled release low phosphorus fertilizer around root zone
• Feed in early spring or late summer
• Regular trimming of spent flowers promotes continual new growth and vigorous budset for following season
• Minimal maintenance once established

Contact

Austraflora Pty Ltd
Bill Molyneux & Sue Forrester
PO Box 386, Yarra Glen, Victoria 3775
Tel:  03 5965 2011
Fax: 03 5965 2011
Email:  austraflora@warrandyte.hotkey.net.au
Website:  www.austraflora.com