Tropical Plant Database - Plant Details

The leaves of Callistemon viminalis are lanceolate 3-6 mm wide by 40-70 mm long but northern forms have a more elliptical-shaped leaf. The flowers are borne in spikes 40-150 mm long with prominent red stamens 15-25 mm long. Petals are greenish or pale coloured, tiny, inconspicuous and in some cases deciduous. Peak flowering time is late spring and it is common for the species to flower in spring and autumn or bear small numbers of flowers all year. Fruits are 5-6 mm in diameter and the seed is held for a few seasons. New growth emerges from the ends of the inflorescence and the young leaves have bronze-coloured hairs.

It is a valuable species in landscaping, being useful as a screen plant, in erosion control or as a specimen or street tree, where it exhibits smog tolerance. Plant Weeping Bottlebrush at the edge of lake or pond where it resembles a small but sporty weeping willow. A non-messy tree for use at poolside and patio.

(Information for this species compiled and recorded by Camelia Cirnaru, NTBG Consultant.)

Weeping Bottlebrush tree is native to New South Wales, Australia. It is a common landscape item in South Florida and is also popular in Southern California.

Callistemon name comes from the Greek kalos meaning beautiful and stemon, stamens. Viminalis comes from Latin, meaning with long, flexible twigs.

Callistemon viminalis is probably the most widely cultivated of all bottlebrushes, being extremely adaptable in cultivation. The species and its cultivars are widely planted in Australia and overseas.

We currently have 3 herbarium specimens for Callistemon viminalis in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.

• 016983 - collected by Joel Lau in 1985
• 016982 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1986
• 016981 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1989