Red Cluster Bottlebrush

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

12 - 15 Feet

Mature Spread

8-10+ Feet

Growing Zones

8 to 10

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.