Plant Characteristics:

The flower spikes of bottlebrushes form in spring and summer and are made up of a number of individual flowers. The pollen of the flower forms on the tip of a long coloured stalk called a filament. It is these filaments which give the flower spike its colour and distinctive 'bottlebrush' shape. The filaments are usually yellow or red. Each flower produces a small woody fruit containing hundreds of tiny seeds. These fruits form in clusters along the stem. The new leaves of many bottlebrushes are very ornamental. The leaves are often coloured and, in some species, they are covered with fine, soft hairs.

Bottlebrushes make excellent garden plants. The flowers can be spectacular and are irresistible to birds and insects. Most species are frost tolerant. Many species can tolerate in damp conditions, yet most are very hardy and will tolerate drought and limited maintenance. They grow well in a wide variety of soils, except those which are highly alkaline. Plants grown in full sun produce the best flowers. It can be lightly pruned after flowering to keep them in shape.