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Bottlebrush (Regular and Weeping)

Common Name: Bottlebrush

Scientific Name: Callistemon ‘Red Cluster’ (Bush and Tree form), Callistemon viminalis (Weeping)

Type of Plant: Shrub, Tree

Description: Bottlebrush in tree form makes a showy specimen, with its bushy, upright growth habit and bright red blooms.  This bottlebrush shrub variety can be grown as a large bush or a small single-trunk or multi-trunk tree.  The weeping bottlebrush tree is a dream of a tree for its small stature, red flowers, and romantic weeping form.

Mature Size: 8-15′ tall x 8-10′ wide (Bush and Tree form), 15′ x 15′ (Weeping)

Blooms: The flower spikes shaped like a bottle brush appear on and off all year – more in warmer months

Fruit:  No

Climate Requirements: The tree loves warm climate, moist soil, and a lot of sunlight. Bottlebrush will thrive in most acidic to light alkaline soils; they need water but do not thrive in heavy moisture without adequate drainage.  With plenty of sun these plants should thrive as long as the climate is moderate and low salt–do not plant on shoreline properties.

Care Requirements: Fertilize 3 times a year – spring, summer and autumn – with a good-quality granular fertilizer high in phosphorus (or supplement with bone meal) to produce heavy bloom.  Because of its faster growth rate, the wood of a bottlebrush tree isn’t as dense as, say, an oak tree, so keep the tree staked while young to protect from breaking in strong winds.

Spacing: Space plants 6-10′ apart, depending on type and form

Water Needs: Average

Maintenance: Low

Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Special Uses/Attributes: A great landscape accent plant, this bottlebrush tree is perfect for the corner of the house or near the entry – though not too near, honeybees love the red flowers.

Florida Native: No

Inventory, Shrubs, Trees

Camellia

Common Name: Camellia

Scientific Name: Camellia japonica

Type of Plant: Shrub

Description: Camellias have been a part of the southern landscape for almost 200 years. They are native to Asia and were introduced into the U.S. near Charleston, South Carolina in 1786. Camellias flower in the fall and winter when their display of colorful blooms is most appreciated. During the remainder of the year their evergreen foliage, interesting shapes and textures, and relatively slow growth make camellias excellent landscape plants.

Mature Size: 6′ tall x 6′ wide.

Blooms: Fall, Winter

Fruit:  No

Climate Requirements: Most camellias will perform best if you plant them in a sheltered location where they receive partial shade. Camellias should be planted in a well-drained, preferably acidic soil and be watered regularly for the first year until they’re established. After that can typically survive on rainfall alone, though they’ll perform better if irrigated during dry spells.

Care Requirements: Any pruning should be done before late summer when the flower buds form.

Spacing: Space plants 36-48″ apart

Water Needs: Average

Maintenance: Low

Special Uses/Attributes: Camellias are tough, evergreen shrubs. If planted and cared for properly, they rarely develop serious disease problems, but they can be bothered by a few pests including tea scale, aphids, and spider mites.  Camellias are generally considered to be deer-resistant.

Florida Native: No

Shrubs