A Well-Placed Callistemon Can Turn an Ordinary Wall or Fence into a Backdrop for SomeTruly Unusual Flowers.

Bottlebrush Blooms With Real Theatre

The most eye‑catching feature of Callistemon is, of course, its extraordinary flowers. The vivid, brush‑like spikes look almost as though they’ve been dipped in paint, standing out dramatically against the fine, evergreen foliage. In late spring and early summer, a mature plant can be studded with blooms, turning a simple corner into something rather special. Whether you favour deep red, cherry pink or more unusual shades, these flowers have a way of stopping visitors in their tracks and making the garden feel a little more exotic.

  • Bottlebrush Blooms With Real Theatre
  • Perfect For Sheltered Corners And Pots
  • Tough, Fast And Surprisingly Forgiving
Callistemon (Bottlebrush) - Simpson's Nurseries Ltd

Callistemon at a Glance:

Common name: Bottlebrush

Latin name: Callistemon

Size in UK gardens: Typically 1.5–3m tall × 1–2.5m wide in time, depending on variety and pruning. Compact forms and pot‑grown plants can be kept smaller.

Best position: A sunny, sheltered spot – often against a south or west‑facing wall, in a warm border or courtyard where it can soak up heat.

Soil: Free‑draining, reasonably fertile garden soil. It dislikes heavy, waterlogged clay but enjoys moisture‑retentive yet well‑drained loam, especially if slightly on the acidic side.

Flowering time: Late spring into summer (usually May–July) with striking, brush‑like flower spikes in red, pink or other shades, sometimes with a lighter second flush later in the season.

Hardiness: Borderline hardy – generally fine in milder, coastal or urban gardens with shelter, but may suffer damage in severe frosts in colder regions.

Care level: Moderately easy – enjoys sun, drainage and shelter, with a little extra winter protection in cooler parts of the UK and light pruning after flowering.
Our Team!

Grown Locally By Us.

Rather than travelling halfway across Europe, our mimosa trees are grown on site by the Simpson’s team. They’re toughened to local conditions, properly potted, and ready to get growing the moment you plant them.

Callistemon Care at a Glance:

Common name: Bottlebrush

Latin name: Callistemon

Size in UK gardens: Often around 1.5–3m tall × 1–2m wide in time, depending on variety and pruning. Compact forms stay smaller and suit modest gardens and patios.

Best position: A sunny, sheltered spot – often against a south or west‑facing wall, in a courtyard.

Soil: Free‑draining soil is essential. Happy in most reasonably fertile, sandy or loamy soils that don’t sit wet in winter.

Flowering time: Typically late spring to early summer, with vivid bottlebrush flower spikes; some varieties give a lighter repeat flush later in the season.

Fragrance: Flowers are usually lightly scented; many types also have aromatic foliage when brushed or crushed.

Hardiness: Borderline hardy; generally fine in a sheltered garden once established, but young plants appreciate some winter protection in colder snaps.

Care level: Moderate – it enjoys sun and drainage and mainly needs light pruning after flowering and a bit of winter TLC in chillier gardens.

Varieties We Usually Stock

Availability is always changing, so please check with us if you have a particular variety in mind.

Acer campestre

Acer campestre 'Elsrijk'

Acer campestre 'Queen Elizabeth'

Acer campestre 'Carnival'

Frequently Asked Questions

In a warm, sheltered position with free‑draining soil, many bottlebrush varieties do well in much of Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and the wider East Anglia area. They are best described as borderline hardy, meaning they cope with typical light frosts once well established but can be marked by very sharp or prolonged cold. Choosing a sunny, protected spot and avoiding very wet soil in winter greatly improves their chances. Young plants particularly appreciate a bit of fleece over the top in the harshest spells until they have had a couple of seasons to settle in.

Yes, Callistemon grows very happily in a large container, and this is often the easiest way to give it the warmth and drainage it enjoys. Use a loam‑based compost with some added grit for free drainage, and choose a pot with good drainage holes. Place the container in the sunniest, most sheltered spot you have, and water and feed regularly during the growing season. In winter, move the pot closer to the house or into a sheltered corner, and make sure excess water can drain away so the roots are not standing in cold, saturated compost.

Most garden bottlebrushes in UK conditions reach around 1.5–3m tall with a similar spread over time, depending on variety and how you prune them. This makes them a good size for many town and village gardens, where you want a feature shrub that gives height without becoming overpowering. More compact forms are available that stay smaller and are ideal for modest borders and containers. With light pruning after flowering to maintain shape, Callistemon can be kept neat and in proportion to a typical small or medium‑sized garden.

Callistemon usually flowers in late spring to early summer, with some varieties offering a lighter second flush later in the season. To encourage plenty of flower spikes, plant it in full sun and free‑draining soil, avoid over‑feeding with high‑nitrogen fertilisers, and prune just after flowering by trimming off the old spikes. This encourages new shoots that will carry the following year’s blooms. In cooler or duller summers, flowering may be a little lighter, but given a warm, sunny aspect in Cambridgeshire or East Anglia, bottlebrush is usually a reliable performer.