Bottlebrush Plant Seeds

Grow bottlebrush plants for their beautiful, long-lasting, bottle-brush-shaped flowers that attract beneficial pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies. They are also easy to care for, being very drought and salt tolerant once established, and are non-toxic to humans and animals. You can grow them as shrubs, trees, or even in pots, with dwarf varieties available. Bottlebrush plants (Callistemon spp.) 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
Bottlebrush plants need a very mild climate. If you live in an area cooler than USDA 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.

Bottlebrushes make excellent garden plants. Plants are all woody shrubs which range from dwarf plants to tall shrubs 10-12 feet tall. The flowers can be spectacular and are irresistible to nectar-feeding birds and insects.
Plants can be lightly pruned after flowering to keep them in shape. A low-phosphorous fertiliser should be applied in spring and autumn. Mulching will help retain soil moisture and reduce weed growth.

Germinating Bottlebrush Seeds

Callistemon seeds are tiny! In fact they look almost like dust. But they generally are fairly easy to germinate.
We have found that sowing seeds on surface of good seed starting mix that been pre-wetted, then covering container with plastic ( we prefer a plastic dome ), and placing container in a spot that will receive bright light, but not direct sunlight works best.
Keep seed starting mix moist until seeds germinate by misting, then remove plastic after you seed seeds germinating.

JB153 Crimson Bottlebrush ( Callistemon citrinus )

Crimson Bottlebrush is one of the most colorful and easily recognized flowering shrubs or small trees in the landscape. Native to Australia, this evergreen ornamental is famous for its brilliant crimson flower spikes that closely resemble old-fashioned bottle brushes.

Mature plants typically reach 10 to 20 feet in height with a rounded, graceful form. The narrow, aromatic leaves release a pleasant citrus fragrance when crushed, giving rise to the species name citrinus.

Throughout spring and often again during summer and fall, the branches become covered with striking red flower spikes composed of hundreds of bright stamens. These vivid blooms create a dramatic display against the rich green foliage.

As a specimen lawn plant, Crimson Bottlebrush provides year-round beauty, colorful blooms, and excellent wildlife value.

Landscape Uses

Specimen lawn shrub or small tree
Foundation plantings
Pollinator gardens
Hummingbird gardens
Mediterranean landscapes
Coastal gardens
Accent plantings
Drought-tolerant landscapes

Its vibrant flowers make it an exceptional focal point where bold color is desired.

Important Landscape Note

Crimson Bottlebrush performs best in full sun. Bright sunlight encourages heavier flowering and denser growth, producing the spectacular bloom displays for which the plant is famous.

Germination Information

Sow seeds on the soil surface or lightly cover.
Use a well-drained seed-starting mix.
Maintain temperatures between 70-80°F.
Keep evenly moist but not waterlogged.
Provide bright light.
Germination generally occurs within 2-6 weeks.

Growing Information

Botanical Name: Callistemon citrinus
Plant Type: Evergreen Shrub or Small Tree
USDA Zones: 8-11
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Mature Height: 10-20 Feet
Mature Spread: 8-15 Feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Soil Preference: Well-drained soils
Water Requirements: Low to Moderate

Crimson Bottlebrush tolerates heat, drought, humidity, and coastal conditions once established. It is highly adaptable and relatively low maintenance.

Container Growing

Crimson Bottlebrush performs very well in large containers and patio planters. Container-grown specimens can provide years of colorful flowering while remaining easy to manage.

LET819 Captain Cook ( Callistemon viminalis var. Capt Cook )

Captain Cook Bottlebrush is a spectacular ornamental selection of the famous Weeping Bottlebrush. Native to Australia, this compact cultivar is treasured for its graceful cascading branches, brilliant crimson flower spikes, and long blooming season.

Mature plants typically reach 6 to 12 feet in height with a similar spread, making them ideal for lawn specimens, foundation plantings, and accent gardens. The slender, arching branches create an elegant fountain-like appearance that remains attractive throughout the year.

The brilliant scarlet-red flower spikes emerge repeatedly from spring through summer and often continue into fall. The blooms resemble oversized bottle brushes and stand out dramatically against the fine-textured evergreen foliage.

As a specimen lawn plant, Captain Cook offers exceptional color, graceful form, and year-round landscape appeal.

Landscape Uses

Specimen lawn shrub or small tree
Foundation plantings
Accent landscapes
Hummingbird gardens
Pollinator gardens
Coastal landscapes
Mediterranean gardens
Container specimens

The naturally weeping habit creates a soft, elegant appearance that contrasts beautifully with more upright landscape plants.

Important Landscape Note

Captain Cook performs best in full sun, where it develops the heaviest flowering displays and maintains its dense, attractive growth habit.

Germination Information

Sow seeds on the soil surface or lightly cover.
Use a well-drained seed-starting mix.
Maintain temperatures between 70-80°F.
Keep evenly moist.
Provide bright light.
Germination generally occurs within 2-6 weeks.

Growing Information

Botanical Name: Callistemon viminalis var. 'Captain Cook'
Plant Type: Evergreen Shrub or Small Tree
USDA Zones: 8-11
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Mature Height: 6-12 Feet
Mature Spread: 6-10 Feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Soil Preference: Well-drained soils
Water Requirements: Low to Moderate

Once established, Captain Cook demonstrates excellent tolerance to drought, heat, humidity, and coastal conditions. It is a dependable performer in a wide variety of landscape settings.

Container Growing

This cultivar performs exceptionally well in large decorative containers and patio planters. The naturally compact size and graceful branching habit make it one of the finest Bottlebrush selections for container culture.

LET998 Weeping Bottlebrush ( Callistemon viminalis )

Weeping Bottlebrush is one of Australia's most elegant flowering trees. Renowned for its graceful cascading branches and brilliant crimson flower spikes, this evergreen ornamental combines year-round beauty with exceptional adaptability and wildlife value.

Mature specimens typically reach 15 to 30 feet in height with an equally broad spread. The long, pendulous branches create a fountain-like canopy that gently sways in the breeze, giving the tree its distinctive weeping appearance.

Throughout spring and summer—and often intermittently throughout the year in warm climates—the branches become covered with vibrant red bottlebrush-shaped flowers. These unusual blooms consist of hundreds of bright stamens that create one of the most recognizable floral displays in the landscape.

Its dramatic form and colorful flowers make Weeping Bottlebrush an outstanding specimen lawn tree and one of the finest flowering ornamentals for warm regions.

Landscape Uses

Specimen lawn tree
Accent tree
Pollinator gardens
Hummingbird landscapes
Mediterranean gardens
Coastal plantings
Water-wise landscapes
Estate gardens

The naturally graceful shape makes it particularly effective as a standalone focal point where its unique architecture can be fully appreciated.

Important Landscape Note

Plant Weeping Bottlebrush where its cascading branches have room to develop naturally. Minimal pruning allows the tree to achieve its most attractive fountain-like form.

Germination Information

Sow seeds on the surface or lightly cover with fine soil.
Use a well-drained seed-starting medium.
Maintain temperatures between 70-80°F.
Keep evenly moist.
Provide bright light.
Germination generally occurs within 2-6 weeks.

Growing Information

Botanical Name: Callistemon viminalis
Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Tree
USDA Zones: 8-11
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Mature Height: 15-30 Feet
Mature Spread: 15-25 Feet
Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
Soil Preference: Well-drained soils
Water Requirements: Low to Moderate

Weeping Bottlebrush tolerates heat, humidity, drought, and coastal conditions exceptionally well. Once established, it becomes a remarkably dependable landscape specimen.

Container Growing

Young plants can be grown successfully in large containers, though mature specimens develop into beautiful landscape trees best suited for permanent planting.

All seed packets listed on this page are in stock and ready to ship.