Callistemon viminalis ‘Red Star’
An exciting choice for the April Plant of the Month! Bottlebrush plants are those that always make you do a doubletake when you pass one by – and Callistemon viminalis ‘Red Star’ is one of the best…
Bottlebrush plants, or Callistemon, to use their proper name, are Australian native shrubs that produce such astonishing flower spikes. Long, cylindrical, and bristling with vivid scarlet stamens, they really do look exactly like an old-fashioned bottle brush.
They have been grown in British gardens for years, beloved for their dramatic, tropical-looking flowers and their wonderfully low-maintenance nature. Once established, they ask for very little and give back an enormous amount.
But, what sets ‘Red Star’ aside from the rest is, while most bottlebrush plants give one glorious flush of flowers in spring, this one repeatedly flowers.
The Reblooming Revolution!
Unlike virtually every other Callistemon variety available, ‘Red Star’ reblooms. That means you get a fantastic opening flush of vivid crimson flower spikes from late spring, and then just when you think the show is over, it does it again! Wave after wave of those brilliant red spikes, right through the summer months.
More flowers for longer, on a plant that is more compact than most of its relatives. And as an evergreen shrub, it looks good all year round!
Between flowering flushes, the rich, slender, aromatic foliage provides wonderful structure and year-round greenery. In a mixed border, a patio container, or as a standalone specimen, it pulls its weight every month of the year, not just when in flower.
So, You’ve Purchased Callistemon ‘Red Star’. Here’s How To Look After It
Position: A sun-soaked garden spot – a south or south-west facing spot is ideal. Avoid exposed, north-facing positions.
Soil: Well-drained, neutral to slightly acid soil. If your soil is heavy clay, improve drainage generously with horticultural grit before planting, or grow in a container with gritty, loam-based compost.
Watering: Water regularly during the first season to establish roots. Once settled in, ‘Red Star’ is drought-tolerant and needs little water. Remember though, if you are growing in a container, the plant will need more regular attention in hot weather.
Feeding: A light application of a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring will keep it growing well. Blooming Fast Superior Soluble Fertiliser, applied monthly through the growing season for container-grown plants, works a treat.
Pruning: Less is more with Callistemon! The golden rule is to prune lightly after each flush of flowers, by simply trimming off the spent flowerheads. This encourages a bushy habit and, with ‘Red Star’, helps stimulate the next flush of blooms. Avoid cutting back into old wood.
Winter care: In mild areas, a thick mulch over the root zone in autumn provides useful insulation. In colder, freezing conditions, move containers under cover or into a cool frost-free greenhouse from late autumn until spring.
