Bottlebrush Red Rover

Bottlebrush 'Red Rover' (Callistemon 'Red Rover') is a compact native that does the work of a much larger shrub in a fraction of the room. It holds at about 1.5m tall and wide, carries deep red brushes through the warmer months, and brings honeyeaters into a garden within a season. Fast growing, frost hardy and tolerant of both drought and wet ground, it is one of the easiest hedges you can plant.

Why you'll love it

• A low hedge that stays low. At 1.5m by 1.5m it sits at or below fence height without constant cutting back.
• Birds arrive within a season. The red brushes are loaded with nectar, and honeyeaters find them quickly, as do bees and butterflies.
• Wet or dry, it copes. Drought tolerant once established and tolerant of wet feet, which is a rare pairing.
• Fast to fill in. Tubes planted in spring make a recognisable hedge line by the following summer.
• Ready for the coast. Salt tolerance keeps it looking well on exposed beachside boundaries.

Where it works best

Low hedging. Plant 1m apart for a low hedge. The plants meet within two seasons and stay dense at the base as long as you trim from the start.

Mass planting and borders. The same spacing across a bed gives a low maintenance block of foliage and colour.

Pots and small gardens. A 400mm pot holds one for years, and the size suits a small back garden where a full sized bottlebrush would take over.

Growing Bottlebrush Red Rover in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the heaviest flowering and the densest growth. Part shade is tolerated, though the plant opens up and flowers less. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens and is frost hardy once established.

Soil. Not fussy. It takes clay, sand and everything between, and unusually it accepts ground that stays wet for a few days after rain. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the stem.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first summer, after which it largely looks after itself. Use a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring, because standard fertilisers can burn the roots of a callistemon.

Pruning. Trim straight after each flush, taking off the spent brushes and a little of the growth behind them. That single job keeps it dense, and untrimmed plants go leggy and bare at the base.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown as tube stock and in 140mm pots in packs of ten. Tubes are the value choice for a long hedge and catch up quickly. The 140mm plants are already branched and put a hedge line in place a season sooner, and a pack of ten covers close to 10m at 1m spacing.

Natives travel well, and a little leaf drop after transit is normal. Water in thoroughly, keep the moisture up for the first six weeks, and expect new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the full callistemon care guide.
• Compare varieties in the bottlebrush collection.
• Browse other Australian native shrubs.
• See what else brings birds in with bird attracting plants.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. That is close enough for the canopies to meet in two seasons and open enough that air moves through the base.

Will it grow taller than 1.5m?

Left alone it settles around 1.5m, which is why it suits low hedging. A light trim after each flush holds it anywhere between 1m and 1.5m.

Does it really need pruning?

For a hedge, yes. Bottlebrush that is never trimmed sends out long bare stems and thins at the base. Cutting the spent brushes off keeps it compact and brings on the next flush.