You only have to look at the bottle brush in flower to feel a sudden summer 'carnival' rush. Its vibrant rich red brush like flowers are not soft and girlie or for the faint hearted but loud, crazy & architectural. Each stamen is tipped with a dot of bright yellow pollen, giving them their 'fibre-optic' appearance.

Callistemon Laevis is a fully hardy evergreen shrub preferring a sunny spot in free draining, light soil. The spikes of rich crimson flowers are found on the tips of the willowy branches in summer, June & July. It flowers most prolifically beside a sheltered sunny wall. Even when not in flower, its narrow, sage green, matt foliage provide plenty of interest and release a lemony scent when brushed past or touched. Young foliage
look stunning with the sun shining on them as they are flushed a pinky red colour.

This plant takes a bit of thought and imagination in terms of where exactly to place it within your planting scheme. Get it right though for example in a sunny border backed by Eucalyptus, hebe sutherlandii, silvery Convolvulus or Astelia, Cordyline australis and Phormium Sundowner and you will have an exotic, hardy sub tropical garden to be envied by your inquisitive neighbours.

Victoria Hardaker