Candelabra Lemon Bottlebrush

Candelabra Lemon Bottlebrush (Callistemon pallidus 'Candelabra') is a slim, upright native shrub that grows 2.5m to 3m tall but only 1m to 2m wide. Stiff stems carry small bronze to silvery leaves, topped from spring to autumn by cream yellow, nectar rich bottlebrush flowers that honeyeaters and other wildlife visit. It slips into narrow spaces and fence lines where a normal hedge would not fit, and it does best away from humid, tropical climates.

Why you'll love it

• Slim and upright. At 1m to 2m wide it fits narrow beds and boundary lines that wider shrubs could not use.
• A long flowering season. Cream yellow brushes appear from spring to autumn, so the plant is in flower for much of the year.
• Bronze and silver foliage. Stiff, small leaves in bronze and silvery tones give the plant a refined look when it is out of flower.
• Food for wildlife. The nectar and pollen attract honeyeaters, rosellas, lorikeets, wrens, flycatchers, gliders and possums.
• Very hardy. It grows in almost all types of soil in sunshine, and it is frost tolerant.

Where it works best

Narrow hedges and boundaries. Plant 1m apart in a single row to form a tall, slim hedge along a fence or boundary. It reaches about 2.5m to 3m without taking much width.

Native and wildlife gardens. Its nectar rich flowers feed birds and insects, which makes it a core plant in a habitat garden.

Feature planting. A group of three beside a gate or at a corner gives upright structure and a long season of cream flowers.

Growing Candelabra Lemon Bottlebrush in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It is frost tolerant but does not like humidity, so it does best in warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean climates. In humid coastal districts and the tropics, it is likely to struggle.

Soil. Very hardy. It grows in almost all types of soil in a sunny position.

Water and feed. Water in extended drought, because it grows naturally in moist soils and beside streams. Feed with a native low phosphorus fertiliser after flowering.

Pruning. Cut back after flowering. Pruning helps the plant become more bushy, and keeps the slim, upright shape tidy.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Candelabra Lemon Bottlebrush as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. Tubes are the economical choice for a long boundary hedge, while the 200mm pots give a taller plant that fills the space sooner. Plant it out in a sunny position soon after delivery and water it regularly while it establishes.

Availability of the tube varies, because it comes from our grower rather than from our own shelves, so it is not always available. When it shows as sold out there is none ready, and the notify button on this page emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the callistemon range
• The best hedging plants
• More Australian native plants
• All about callistemon, the bottlebrush

Common questions

How narrow will it stay?

Expect 1m to 2m wide, with a height of 2.5m to 3m. That is much slimmer than most bottlebrushes, so it works along a fence or in a narrow side bed.

Will it grow in humid climates?

It is not the best choice. It is frost tolerant but dislikes humidity, so it struggles on humid coasts and in the tropics. It performs best in drier, cooler districts.

Which birds will it attract?

Honeyeaters, rosellas, lorikeets and wrens all visit, along with insects and small mammals such as gliders and possums, because the flowers are rich in nectar and pollen.