Callistemon pallidus - RIVER BOTTLEBRUSH

$18 (1 gallon)

The River Bottlebrush is one of the hardiest species in the genus; in fact it has lived at the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle for many years without being harmed by cold. It has slightly more bluish leaves than many, long spikes of showy cream flowers, and can get rather large (to 8'+) - which is cool because then you can see the attractive peeling bark. Hardy to about 10°F.

Callistemon sp. aff. salignus [WCM]

$12

I have offered seeds of this plant in the past, but now I have demonstrated that my seeds will indeed grow into plants. One of several different plants that came up from a seed packet of what was supposed to be C. salignus. This one looks closest to the real C. salignus! Expect an upright habit and VERY showy cream brushes. It tolerates poor drainage and temperatures to at least 10°F, perhaps much lower. I am just waiting to see how big it will get.... moohoohahaha!!!

Callistemon sp. Mt. Drummer, Tasmania - MOUNT DRUMMER BOTTLEBRUSH

$10

Who says every cool plant has to have a name? This very vigorous, large-growing (though still shrubby) bottlebrush remains nameless, but it will not hold that against anyone who grows it. On the contrary, it will reward you with felty mauve new growth and big, purple brushes in late spring! It has papery white bark, and very large leaves for a bottlebrush. Hardy to about 15°F. Thanks to Jim Gerdemann for sharing this plant from his amazing collection.

Callistemon sp. 'Not Brachyandrus' NEW Spring 2010!

$9

Sometimes I get a plant and it doesn't match its description. Here is one such case: purchased as Callistemon brachyandrus, it has grown into something with much broader leaves and paler flowers than that species is supposed to have. What is, I'm not sure - but I thought it was interesting enough to be worth propagating, since the flower color is unique, and it is very hardy. Cream flowers in late spring or early summer are barely tinged with pink. It has a spreading habit and is very vigorous and easy to grow in full sun on any soil. Hardy to about 10°F.

Callistemon sp. 'Violaceous'

$10

This provisional name is not an official botanical name, but it adequately describes the beautiful magenta flower color of this plant. It may be a seedling of C. citrinus 'Jeffersii' but it is certainly much hardier to cold than C. citrinus. It has an attractive upright habit with rather broad leaves. 12°F. Australia.

Callistemon viridiflorus - GREEN BOTTLEBRUSH

$18 (1 gallon)

From the windswept heaths of Tasmania (sounds dramatic doesn't it?) comes this outstanding bottlebrush species with many ornamental virtues: a generous show of creamy brushes in spring, a strongly upright growth habit, soft felty new growth produced from conspicuous cone-like branch buds, and peeling white bark. It adapts well to cultivation even in hot climates, and can be grown on wet or dry soil, though it does require sun. One Seattle gardener has made it into a spectacular hedge! In addition it is extremely cold-hardy, easily withstanding 0°F.

Callistemon subulatus

$9

If you've been fooled before, I offer the real subulatus, a plant with a long history of cultivation in the Seattle area. It has a semi-weeping, spreading habit, and a profusion of showy crimson brushes in late spring, making it very showy! It will flower best in full sun with not too much irrigation and is generally cold hardy to about 10°F.

Leptospermum grandiflorum 'Eugene Hardy'

$12

This exciting tea tree from the mountains of southeast Australia grows into like a robust small tree with very large leaves (compared to the other species) and similarly magnificent oversized flowers. This is a seriously super-hardy Leptospermum, since they all survived being frozen solid for days and down to 13°F in their pots during the big December 2008 freeze (they lost some leaves but didn't die back!). I'd guess this ought to handle at least 5°F in the ground and perhaps lower. The name 'Eugene Hardy' probably refers to it being hardy in Eugene, Oregon; although it could just be named after a guy named Eugene Hardy. Thanks to Jim Gerdemann for sharing this plant from his amazing collection.

Leptospermum humifusum [prostrate form] NEW Spring 2010!

10

This robust and vigorous low shrub makes an excellent groundcover for spilling down banks and over rockeries. Tiny evergreen leaves are a glossy deep green, highlighted further by reddish-brown stems; and little white flowers cover the plant in late spring. It will grow on any soil and even tolerates poor drainage. Use it in the garden for something to offset bold-foliaged plants without looking mundane. Hardy to 5°F.

Leptospermum humifusum [upright form] NEW Spring 2010!

$9

This species is distinctive for having a very dark green look overall, though the stems and bark are an appealing red-brown. It also has small white flowers in spring. It is one of the more compact-growing species, usually maxing out around 4 - 6' tall. An extremely hardy species, it ought to handle 5°F and perhaps 0°F.

Leptospermum nitidum [green form] NEW Spring 2010!

$12

This species is very vigorous and has almost a rocket-like habit of growth. Although eventually tree-like in habit (perhaps to 15'? we don't know yet), it remains rather pyramidal and doesn't take up too much space. It can also be cut back to make a more rounded shrub. Leaves are small and green, and white spring flowers occur among the leaves. It has never been damaged by cold in my old garden in Olympia, and ought to handle at least 10°F once established and perhaps lower.

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