Weeping bottlebrush Melaleuca viminalis
Weeping bottlebrush (Melaleuca viminalis) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Myrtaceae family, native to Stream banks of eastern Queensland and New South Wales. It grows 4–8 m (13–26 ft) tall and 3–5 m (10–16 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -5 °C (23 °F). Space plants about 3 m (10 ft) apart.
Plan Weeping bottlebrush in your garden →
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Weeping bottlebrush at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Myrtaceae |
| Mature height | 4–8 m (13–26 ft) |
| Mature spread | 3–5 m (10–16 ft) |
| Spacing | 3 m (10 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance moderate |
| Soil pH | 5–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -5 °C (23 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 42 °C (108 °F) |
| Flowering | about 104–209 weeks after planting, for 6–10 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Stream banks of eastern Queensland and New South Wales |
| Common in gardens of | 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇮🇱 Israel, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇮🇳 India |
Is Weeping bottlebrush toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not poisonous (bottlebrushes are listed as non-toxic to pets).
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Weeping bottlebrush
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Keep apart or take care
- caution With Guava: Myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) infects guava, feijoa, Surinam cherry and many other Myrtaceae; it spreads by airborne spores between them. Evidence B
Questions about Weeping bottlebrush
- How far apart should I plant Weeping bottlebrush?
- About 3 m (10 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–5 m (10–16 ft).
- Does Weeping bottlebrush need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Weeping bottlebrush need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance moderate.
- How cold-hardy is Weeping bottlebrush?
- It tolerates about -5 °C (23 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Weeping bottlebrush flower?
- About 104–209 weeks after planting, for 6–10 weeks.
- Is Weeping bottlebrush poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not poisonous (bottlebrushes are listed as non-toxic to pets).
- What grows well with Weeping bottlebrush?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Weeping bottlebrush. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- PlantNET: the NSW Flora Online, National Herbarium of New South Wales, Botanic Gardens of Sydney
- Australian native plant profiles, Australian National Botanic Gardens / Australian Plants Society
Notes and assumptions
- Long, weeping branches tipped with bright red brushes of stamens in spring, visited by honeyeaters. Widely sold as Callistemon viminalis (‘Captain Cook’, ‘Hannah Ray’, ‘Kings Park Special’); it has since been moved into Melaleuca. Tolerates wet soil and is a common street tree.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Lemon myrtle Backhousia citriodora
- Guava Psidium guajava
- Feijoa Acca sellowiana
- Surinam cherry (pitanga) Eugenia uniflora
- Cider gum (eucalyptus) Eucalyptus gunnii
- Lilly pilly Syzygium smithii
- Crimson bottlebrush Melaleuca citrina
- Mānuka (tea tree) Leptospermum scoparium