Candle Glow Bottlebrush

Candle Glow Bottlebrush (Callistemon pallidus 'Candle Glow') is a low, wide mounding native, 50cm to 1m high and spreading 3m to 4m across, with small silvery leaves. From spring to autumn it carries cream-yellow brushes loaded with nectar. It is the bottlebrush to choose for a bank, a verge or a coastal garden where you want a groundcover shrub rather than a tall one.

Why you'll love it

• Pale yellow brushes. Cream-yellow flowers are unusual among bottlebrushes, and they appear from spring through to autumn.
• Covers ground. The low mound spreads 3m to 4m wide, so a few plants fill a large area with silvery foliage.
• A wildlife favourite. Honeyeaters, bees and butterflies all visit the nectar-rich flowers.
• Cold hardy for a bottlebrush. It tolerates frost and is reputed to cope with cold better than most bottlebrushes, which helps in southern gardens.
• Takes wet and clay. It grows naturally in moist soils beside streams, so clay, soggy patches and the odd dry spell do not trouble it.

Where it works best

Groundcover on banks and slopes. Plant 2m apart along the top of a bank and the branches spill over the edge as they spread. Mulch between the young plants until they meet.

Coastal gardens and nature strips. It handles coastal weather and tolerates urban pollution, so it suits seaside gardens and street verges alike.

Native and wildlife beds. Use it as a low spreading feature at the front of a native bed, where the pale flowers contrast with the red and pink bottlebrushes behind.

Growing Candle Glow Bottlebrush in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun suits it best. It tolerates frost but dislikes humidity, so it performs best in warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens. It is native to the east coast from Tweed Heads down to Tasmania, and in humid districts an open, airy position helps.

Soil. Very hardy, growing in almost any soil in a sunny spot, from clay to light loam. It also tolerates wet ground.

Water and feed. It grows naturally in moist soils and beside streams, so give it a deep drink in extended dry weather rather than leaving it to fend for itself. Feed with a low phosphorus native fertiliser after flowering.

Pruning. Cut back after flowering. Pruning helps the mound thicken into a bushier shape and keeps the spread in check.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Candle Glow Bottlebrush as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Because the mature plant spreads so far, tube stock is the economical way to cover a large bank or verge. Plants travel upright and settle in within a few weeks in warm soil.

Tubes come from our grower and are not always in supply. When none are available the tube shows as sold out here, and the notify button on this page emails you the day it returns.

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 full bottlebrush range
• More groundcover plants
• Plants for retaining walls and banks
• Designing a native garden to attract wildlife

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

About 2m apart as a groundcover. The mature spread is 3m to 4m, so the plants meet after a few seasons.

Does it cope with humid weather?

Not well. It prefers drier, airier conditions, so in a humid garden plant it in an open spot with good air movement.

Is it frost hardy?

Yes, it tolerates frost and is reputed to cope with cold better than most bottlebrushes, which makes it a sound choice for southern gardens.