• Photo of Melaleuca citrina (Melaleuca citrinas)

Plant Profile: Melaleuca citrina

Names

Callistemon citrinus, Crimson Bottlebrush, Lemon Bottlebrush

  • Photo of Melaleuca citrina (Melaleuca citrinas)

Phonetic Spelling:me-luh-LOO-kuh sih-TRE-nuh

Genus:Melaleuca

Species:citrina

Family:Myrtaceae

The Crimson Bottlebrush is a perennial shrub belonging to the myrtle family, indigenous to Australia and South Wales. This plant typically reaches heights and widths of 8 to 15 feet. In spring and again in fall, it produces striking clusters of yellow or red flowers that resemble bottlebrushes. Various cultivars are available, showcasing a range of flower colors. This hardy shrub can withstand temperatures as low as 20-25 degrees Fahrenheit, although it requires winter protection in zone 8.

Thriving in well-drained soil and full sunlight, the Crimson Bottlebrush is also drought-resistant. However, it may be challenging to locate for purchase.

Melaleuca citrina Feature Summary

Melaleuca citrina Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#deer resistant
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats

Similar Plants

Melaleuca citrina Feature Summary

Fruit
Woody cup-shaped capsules
Flowers
Bright crimson flowers on 4-5 inch, erect, terminal inflorescence with a bottlebrush-like appearance. Up to 40 individual flowers with very long stamens.
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
3-6 inches
Leaves
1-3 inch, alternate, simple, lanceolate, bright green leaves; prominent, ribbed midvein; new growth is coppery; lemon odor when crushed
Green
Brown/Copper
Lanceolate
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Piedmont
8b
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b

Melaleuca citrina Attributes

Melaleuca citrina: Country Or Region Of Origin

Eastern & South Eastern Australia

Melaleuca citrina: Wildlife Value

Resistant to deer

Melaleuca citrina: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

deer

Melaleuca citrina Fruit

Melaleuca citrina: Fruit Description

Woody cup-shaped capsules

Melaleuca citrina: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Melaleuca citrina Flowers

Melaleuca citrina: Flower Description

Bright crimson flowers on 4-5 inch, erect, terminal inflorescence with a bottlebrush-like appearance. Up to 40 individual flowers with very long stamens.

Melaleuca citrina: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy

Melaleuca citrina: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Melaleuca citrina Leaves

Melaleuca citrina: Leaf Description

1-3 inch, alternate, simple, lanceolate, bright green leaves; prominent, ribbed midvein; new growth is coppery; lemon odor when crushed

Melaleuca citrina: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Melaleuca citrina: Leaf Color

spa
Brown/Copper
spa
Green

Melaleuca citrina: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Melaleuca citrina: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Melaleuca citrina: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Melaleuca citrina: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Melaleuca citrina: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Melaleuca citrina Whole Plant Traits

Melaleuca citrina: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Melaleuca citrina: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Melaleuca citrina: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Melaleuca citrina: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Melaleuca citrina Cultural Conditions

Melaleuca citrina: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Melaleuca citrina: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Melaleuca citrina: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Melaleuca citrina: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Melaleuca citrina: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Melaleuca citrina Stem

Melaleuca citrina: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Melaleuca citrina Landscape

Melaleuca citrina: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind