The Red Bottlebrush

The Bottlebrush is sometimes referred to in Phoenix as Red Bottlebrush or Little John. The bottlebrush plant is one of several desert plants that I... more

by Robert Bales

Title

The Red Bottlebrush

Artist

Robert Bales

Medium

Photograph - Photo

Description

The Bottlebrush is sometimes referred to in Phoenix as Red Bottlebrush or Little John. The bottlebrush plant is one of several desert plants that I recommend for people who want desert plants that are perennial (you need to plant them only once), hardy, low care, relatively drought resistant, easy to find, pretty cheap to buy, and provide lovely color many times during the year.
Bottlebrush plants get their name from the spikes of flowers that bloom at the ends of the stems, bearing a strong resemblance to a bottle brush. Grow them as shrubs or small trees that grow up to 15 feet. Most bottlebrush varieties bloom over a long summer season in shades of red or crimson. One exception is C. sieberi, which has light yellow flower spikes.
Bottlebrush plants need a very mild climate. If you live in an area cooler than U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8b through 11, grow bottlebrush in pots that you can move to a protected area for winter. Use a rich, peaty potting soil with a few handfuls of sand added to improve the drainage. If pruned hard every year, the plants will grow in pots as small as 6 to 8 inches in diameter. If you plan to let the shrub grow, you will need a large tub.

Uploaded

March 19th, 2015