Callistemon Citrinus 'White Anzac'

White Anzac Bottlebrush

Botanical Name: Callistemon citrinus ‘White Anzac’ (syn. Melaleuca citrina ‘White Anzac’)
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Australia (garden cultivar, derived from C. citrinus)
Plant Type: Evergreen groundcover / low spreading shrub

Overview

A tough, spreading form of bottlebrush featuring clean white flowers and fresh green foliage, Callistemon citrinus ‘White Anzac’ is an excellent groundcover or low feature shrub for Adelaide and South Australian gardens. It forms a dense mat of arching stems and narrow leaves that cascade beautifully over embankments, retaining walls, or garden edges. Masses of white bottlebrush flowers appear in spring, often with a light flush in late summer to early autumn, providing valuable nectar for birds and pollinators. Exceptionally hardy, low-maintenance, and drought-tolerant once established, it’s ideal for coastal, native, and waterwise landscapes.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 0.4–0.6 m H × 1.5–2.5 m W (low, spreading form)
• Growth Rate: 20–40 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Narrow, mid-green aromatic leaves; soft new growth with a hint of bronze in warm weather
• Flowers: White bottlebrush spikes in spring, with spot blooming in warm, wet periods
• Seasonal Interest: Evergreen structure year-round; bright white blooms add contrast through spring and summer
• Wildlife Value: Attracts honeyeaters, native bees, and butterflies with nectar-rich blooms; dense groundcover provides shelter for small birds and insects
• Tolerance: Highly drought-tolerant once established; heat, wind, and coastal tolerant (front-line suitable); light frost tolerant; recovers quickly from cold snaps; handles poor or sandy soils typical of Adelaide’s coastal plains
• Planting Density: Groundcover: 1 plant per 1–1.5 m² for dense coverage; Mass planting: 1–1.2 m apart for continuous ground layer; Feature or cascading use: 1.5–2.5 m apart
• Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats and dogs; safe for family and pet-friendly gardens

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to light part shade (best flowering in full sun)
• Soil: Well-drained sandy, loamy, or gravelly soils; tolerates poor, slightly alkaline soils
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 2-3 weeks in summer (weekly in heatwaves); minimal watering in winter
• Maintenance: Low-maintenance — simply lightly trim after flowering to maintain shape and promote new growth. Avoid heavy pruning into old wood. Mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Feed annually in early spring with a low-phosphorus native fertiliser
• Lifespan: 15–25+ years in South Australian gardens with minimal care
• Climate Zones: Ideal for Mediterranean and temperate SA, thriving across Adelaide plains, coastal regions, Fleurieu and Yorke Peninsulas, Eyre Peninsula, and Barossa foothills
• Soil pH: Tolerates neutral to slightly alkaline soils; prefers free-draining profiles

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Groundcover for banks, verges, and retaining walls
• Mass planting for erosion control and soil stabilisation
• Understorey planting beneath taller natives
• Cascading feature over walls or large pots
• Combine with Grevillea ‘Royal Mantle’, Westringia, or Lomandra for waterwise native borders

Why You Will Love It

White Anzac delivers soft, luminous flowers and lush evergreen coverage with almost no maintenance. Perfectly adapted to Adelaide’s dry, coastal climate, it offers long-lasting beauty, bird-attracting blooms, and exceptional resilience in waterwise and native garden designs.