Callistemon viminalis Outback Flame® - Bottlebrush

Callistemon viminalis 'Outback Flame'® is a variety of bottlebrush which is attractive for its intense red spring flowering, which sometimes reoccurs later in the season. It forms a medium-sized clump with vibrant green foliage, composed of small, narrow leaves. A plant for mild climates, its cold hardiness is limited to around -7°C in well-drained soil. Conversely, it tolerates heat and dry soil very well once established. In climates that are too cold, it can be grown in a container to overwinter under cover like an orangery plant.

Callistemon belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which includes about 3000 species mostly native to warm climates, also including Common Myrtle, a Mediterranean shrub with aromatic evergreen foliage and beautiful white flowers. With 34 species, the Callistemon genus is now classified under the Melaleuca genus. Callistemon viminalis is native to Australia, specifically Queensland and New South Wales (eastern part of the continent). In its native regions, it is found along watercourses in coastal plains, where it develops into a large shrub or small tree up to 8 or 9 metres in height. It forms a dense, dome-shaped crown with trailing branches, hence its nickname of Weeping Bottlebrush.
The horticultural variety 'Outback Flame' has a much more limited growth, allowing it to be planted in small gardens. It forms a bush of approximately 2 metres in height and 1.50 metres in spread. Its habit is rather upright with flexible, trailing branches, clothed in quite architectural, fine foliage of a vibrant green. The leathery leaves are very narrow and measure approximately 3 to 6 cm long and only 4 to 6 mm wide. This reduced leaf surface is an adaptation to heat, as the plant transpires less and is more drought-resistant. The young shoots are often tinged with orange, which enhances the ornamental appeal of this Callistemon. Around mid-spring, the shrub produces the famous bottlebrush-like flower spikes. Spikes of flowers with protruding bright red stamens develop at the tips of each branch. These spectacular bottlebrushes measure 8 to 10 cm long, or even more, with a diameter of 4/5 cm and are eye-catching from metres away. They also attract many pollinators, including bees, as they are rich in nectar. Flowering can recur several times until autumn, more scattered than in spring, but the inflorescences are so colourful and imposing that they remain decorative even in smaller numbers.

The Outback Flame Bottlebrush is one of those distinctive plants that instantly add an exotic touch to a flower bed. At home on the southern or Atlantic coast, appreciating full sun, it pairs perfectly with other evocative plants. Plant it alongside Grevilleas with their sophisticated patterned flowers and Duranta repens, or Golden Dewdrop, whose small bluish-purple flowers will create a superb contrast with the bright red, and will be followed by very decorative, small spherical orange fruits. Plant dome-shaped perennials in the foreground like Euryops pectinatus with its many yellow flowers, and as edging, groundcover plants like Osteospermum with its daisy-like flowers, or Aptenia cordifolia.