Callistemon 
pallidus 
There are thirty species in the genus 
Callistemon which is included in the family 
Myrtaceae. These distinctive plants which 
are commonly called bottlebrushes are a 
familiar sight in many gardens and there 
is always a place for one of them. 
Callistemon pallidus, commonly called 
lemon bottlebrush, is a widely grown 
ornamental plant which has performed 
exceptionally well in cultivation and is 
useful as a specimen or screen plant. 
It is an upright hardy shrub with slender 
spreading branches growing to a height 
of 3 m by 2 m across. The fresh lemon 
coloured brushes present a pleasing 
contrast to the grey-green foliage. This 
frost hardy plant will grow in moist 
situations in full sun or part shade and 
will withstand moderate exposure to salt 
laden winds. 
C. pallidus is common on rocky sites 
of the eastern ranges and occurs naturally 
in New South Wales, the Australian Capital 
Territory, Victoria and Tasmania. In the 
ACT it is a dominant species in heath on 
exposed mountain slopes. 
The leaves are tapered to 50 mm long 
and dotted with oil glands. Young growth 
is often attractively covered with dense 
silky hairs, later becoming smooth. The 
flowers are borne in profuse cylindrical 
spikes 50-100 mm long and occur from 
September to January. Individual flowers 
have 5 sepals, 5 petals and numerous 
cream to greenish-yellow stamens. The 
cup-shaped fruit capsules are woody and 
contain numerous fine seeds. 
C. pallidus may be propagated from 
seed or cuttings. When collecting seed, 
select old capsules and place them in a 
warm area until they dry out and release 
the fine seeds. New growth which has 
hardened is suitable cutting material and 
should be taken in February/March. 
Cuttings should be treated with a rooting 
hormone* such as IBA (indole butyric 
acid) 2000 ppm. 
This plant responds well to periodic 
pruning to encourage a bushier growth 
habit. Mulching and application of a 
complete fertiliser* in spring and autumn 
are recommended. 
Some new cultivars of C. pallidus have 
been introduced into cultivation. These 
include Callistemon pallidus 'Austraflora 
Candle Glow’ which has a low spreading 
habit and lemon brushes 75-100 mm long 
and Callistemon ‘Clearview Father Christ¬ 
mas’ which has flower spikes 110 mm long 
with whitish stamens and red anthers. 
• See Appendix 
345 
M. FAGG 
