Callistemon rigidus

Bottlebrush

Family: Myrtaceae

Zone: 8-10                              Average Size: 8’H x 6’W

Identification:

-Simple leaf, lanceolate, rigid with a sharp apex, aromatic, evergreen
-Bottlebrush-like flower as the result of long red stamens at the end of stems
-Fruit is a small capsule along the stem, size of a small pea

Note: A native of Australia, the Bottlebrush is well adapted to hot and dry locations in full sun. The showy flowers that bloom from late spring though autumn attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Cold hardiness is always in question. Low temperatures in the 1980s killed many plants in the lower South. Unfortunately, no specimens of Callistemon rigidus exist on the campus of LSU although a few can be found in surrounding neighborhoods.

Campus Location: none