Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
The Red Cluster Bottlebrush or Callistemon rigidus 'Clemson Hardy' is a blooming shrub that makes a statement all year long. Glossy, oblong green foliage comes to a point and sticks with this evergreen plant throughout the year. During the spring, summer, and fall, clusters of red flowers with thin, wispy petals appear along the branches. The blooms bear a striking resemblance to bottlebrushes and inspire the name. The fuzzy flowers add texture and vivid color to a landscape.
This plant is native to Australia, so that it can live very comfortably in somewhat challenging conditions. In the U.S., the Red Cluster Bottlebrush is a perennial in zones 8 through 11. Established plants are drought- and heat-tolerant and require very low maintenance. Thanks to its bold blooms, this plant is commonly used in a hedge, to create a screen planting, or as an accent. Butterflies and hummingbirds are known to be attracted to this tree-like shrub that is also deer resistant.
Red Cluster Bottlebrush Plant Care
Plant the Red Cluster Bottlebrush in the full sun using well-draining soil. Newly planted Bottlebrush plants need water when the top few inches of the soil dry out. Established plants are drought-tolerant and only need water during an extended dry spell.
Prune in early spring to maintain a neat appearance and promote full and dense growth. Feed the plant using a balanced fertilizer in the spring to encourage more flowers.
Red Cluster Bottlebrush Plant Spacing
This is a large plant and, once mature, Red Cluster Bottlebrush can be 12 to 15 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide. When planting with other plants, space everything 4 to 6 feet apart to create a dense hedgerow. Plants can be spaced further apart if you do not want a hedge-like look.
Red Cluster Bottlebrush Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 8 to 10 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 12-15 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 8-10+ Feet
- Growth Rate
- Moderate
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Red
- Flower Description
- Red
- Bloom Time
- Spring to Early Summer
- Blooms On
-
New Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Late winter to early spring, before new growth starts
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Fall Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Red Cluster Bottlebrush
- Botanical Name
- Calistemon rigidus 'Clemson Hardy'
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!