Callistemon viminalis - Meet the Plants - National Tropical Botanical Garden Plant Database

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Taxonomy:

Callistemon viminalis (Myrtaceae)

Common Name:
Weeping Bottlebrush

Classification:

Callistemon R. Br.
Kingdom: Plantae-Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta-Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta-Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta-Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida-Dicotyledons
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae-Myrtle family
Genus: Callistemon R. Br. - Bottlebrush
Species: Callistemon viminalis - Weeping Bottlebrush
(National Plant Database. 2004.)

Description:

The leaves of Callistemon viminalis are lanceolate 3-6 mm wide by 40-70 mm long but northern forms have a more elliptical-shaped leaf.

The flowers are borne in spikes 40-150 mm long with prominent red stamens 15-25 mm long. Petals are greenish or pale coloured, tiny, inconspicuous and in some cases deciduous. Peak flowering time is late spring and it is common for the species to flower in spring and autumn or bear small numbers of flowers all year. Fruits are 5-6 mm in diameter and the seed is held for a few seasons. New growth emerges from the ends of the inflorescence and the young leaves have bronze-coloured hairs.

Geographic Distribution:

Weeping Bottlebrush tree is native to New South Wales, Australia. It is a common landscape item in South Florida and is also popular in Southern California.

Status:

Callistemon viminalis is probably the most widely cultivated of all bottlebrushes, being extremely adaptable

in cultivation. The species and its cultivars are widely planted in Australia and overseas.

Native Legends and Names:

Callistemon name comes from the Greek kalos meaning beautiful and stemon, stamens. Viminalis comes from Latin, meaning with long, flexible twigs.

Indigenous Practices:

It is a valuable species in landscaping, being useful as a screen plant, in erosion control or as a specimen or street tree, where it exhibits smog tolerance.

Plant Weeping Bottlebrush at the edge of lake or pond where it resembles a small but sporty weeping willow. A non-messy tree for use at poolside and patio.

(Information for this species compiled and recorded by Camelia Cirnaru, NTBG Consultant.)

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