Callistemon rigidus (28/08/2014, Rue de la Pointe Park, Brest, France)
Position: Full sun
Soil: Moist, well drained
Flowering period: Summer
Eventual Height: 2.5m
Eventual Spread: 2.5m
Hardiness: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11
Family: Myrtaceae
Callistemon rigidus Flower (28/08/2014, Rue de la Pointe Park, Brest, France)
Callistemon rigidus is an evergreen shrub or tree with an open habit. Its dark green leaves are linear to lance-shaped, up to 7cm long and 5mm broad. It flowers are 10cm long bottle brush like spikes of hermaphrodite flowers with enlarged red stamens arranged radially around the tips of the flowering stems. These are followed by dark grey, tightly spaced small fruit.
Callistemon rigidus, commonly known as the Stiff Bottlebrush, is native to eastern Australia.
Callistemon rigidus Leaf (28/08/2014, Rue de la Pointe Park, Brest, France)
The etymological root of the binomial name Callistemon is derived from the ancient Greek Kalli meaning ‘beautiful’ and stamen the pollen producing part of a flower. Rigidus is from the Latin meaning ‘stiff’.
The landscape architect may find Callistemon rigidus useful as an attractive evergreen flowering shrub suitable for acidic soils. A warm sheltered location will ensure this plant flowers prolifically.
Ecologically, Callistemon rigidus flowers are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.
Callistemon rigidus Fruit (28/08/2014, Rue de la Pointe Park, Brest, France)
Callistemon rigidus prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It prefers a neutral to acid pH of soil.
Callistemon rigidus requires little maintenance, dead or damaged material may be removed after flowering.
