scarlet bottlebrush
Melaleuca citrina
USDA zones9 to 10
SunNeeds full sun (6+ hours)
WaterHandles moderate to moist soil
Size3 to 5 feet tall2 to 3 feet wide
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn, winter
- Bloom color
- Red
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Scarlet bottlebrush (Melaleuca citrina) is a shrub for borders, containers, hedges, and xeriscape gardens. It grows outdoors year-round in USDA zone 9 and warmer, down to about 20°F (-7°C). In colder areas, grow it as a houseplant or bring it indoors for winter. This plant likes full sun and average to moist, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. Red blooms appear in every season and draw butterflies, hummingbirds, and birds. Deer rarely make it their first choice. The evergreen leaves are fragrant.
Pairs well with Shrimp plant, Night-blooming jasmine, and Papyrus.
Native range
Australia.