Red Cluster Bottlebrush

Red Cluster Bottlebrush (Callistemon 'Red Cluster') is a large, bright red flowering native, 2m to 3m high and about 2m wide, that can also be trained as a single-trunk tree. Big red brushes open from spring through to autumn over silver-pink new growth. It makes a privacy hedge, a feature shrub or a massed planting that birds visit for months.

Why you'll love it

• Big red flowers for months. Large, bright red brushes appear from spring right through to autumn, a very long season of colour.
• Silver-pink new growth. Fresh leaves emerge silvery pink, adding a second layer of colour between flowers.
• Three shapes from one plant. Grow it as a multi-stem shrub, a dense hedge or a single-trunk feature tree.
• A magnet for birds. The long flowering season keeps nectar on offer for a long time, which draws birds and other wildlife.
• Hardy and forgiving. It is very hardy in most soils, including coastal sites, and prefers full sun while tolerating dappled shade.

Where it works best

Privacy hedges. Plant 1.5m apart in a row. At about 2m wide the shrubs meet within a couple of seasons and give a dense, flowering screen to 3m.

A feature tree. To grow a single trunk, tie a young plant to a cane, choose the strongest upright stem and trim off the lower stems as it grows. The result is a small tree with a rounded head of red flowers.

Massed plantings and wildlife gardens. Group three or five plants about 2m apart in a native bed, and the long flowering season supports birds for much of the year.

Growing Red Cluster Bottlebrush in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun suits it best, though it tolerates dappled shade. It is very hardy and copes well on coastal sites. No frost rating is published for this variety, so in frosty districts give young plants mulch and shelter through their first winters. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean climates.

Soil. Very hardy and forgiving in most soils, including sandy coastal ground. Mulch after planting to hold moisture while it establishes.

Water and feed. Water regularly through the first summer, then ease off as the roots spread. Feed with a native fertiliser after flowering.

Pruning. Prune after flowering to keep it dense. For a single trunk, support a young plant with a cane and trim the lower stems to leave one strong leader.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Red Cluster Bottlebrush as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Tubes suit a long hedge or a massed planting where cost per plant matters, and a tree form starts well from a single young stem. Plants travel upright and settle in within a few weeks in warm soil.

Our grower supplies the tubes, and they are not always available. A tube shows as sold out when the grower has none, 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 all bottlebrush varieties
• Hedging and screening plants
• Coastal and salt tolerant plants
• Pruning for beginners: a simple guide

Common questions

Can I grow Red Cluster as a tree?

Yes. Support a young plant on a cane and remove the lower stems as it grows, leaving one strong trunk. It forms a small tree to about 3m.

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

About 1.5m apart in a single row. At that spacing the shrubs meet in a couple of seasons.

Is it suitable for coastal gardens?

Yes, it is very hardy and forgiving on coastal sites. As with any new planting, water it regularly while it establishes.