{"product_id":"callistemon-hybrid-mary-mackillop","title":"Callistemon hybrid 'Mary MacKillop'","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMary MacKillop Bottlebrush\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eCallistemon hybrid 'Mary MacKillop'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Myrtaceae\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Australian hybrid (cross between \u003cem\u003eCallistemon viminalis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Hannah Ray' × \u003cem\u003eCallistemon citrinus\u003c\/em\u003e 'Endeavour')\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen medium-to-large shrub\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNamed in honour of Australia's first saint, Mary MacKillop Bottlebrush is a dense, lightly weeping medium shrub that earns its place in South Australian gardens with vivid scarlet bottlebrush flowers, brilliant lettuce-green new growth, and year-round glossy foliage. Bred from two outstanding parent cultivars, it combines the graceful arching habit of 'Hannah Ray' with the vigour and flower power of 'Endeavour', resulting in a plant that performs reliably across coastal suburbs, the Adelaide Plains, and into the cooler Hills fringe. As a hedge, screen, or bold specimen, it delivers colour, wildlife value, and low-maintenance appeal in equal measure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2–3 m H × 1–2 m W\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fast; 30–50 cm per year in the first 3–5 years; dense, self-branching and bushy with lightly arching branch tips, settling to a moderate pace once established\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen; narrow-lanceolate mid-green leaves with a glossy surface; new growth emerges in a vivid lettuce-green to soft pinkish-red flush, creating a two-tone seasonal contrast; branch tips weep softly without being fully pendulous\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Vivid scarlet to cardinal-red cylindrical bottlebrush spikes, approximately 10–12 cm long, densely packed with prominent red stamens tipped gold; primary flush in spring (September–November) with a reliable secondary flush in summer (December–February); non-fragrant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeasonal Interest:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring and summer flower spectacle; year-round foliage interest from the two-tone new-growth flushes; old seed capsules retained along stems add subtle textural interest in autumn and winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife Value:\u003c\/strong\u003e Exceptional honey-eater magnet — New Holland honeyeaters, eastern spinebills, and wattlebirds are regular visitors; dense foliage also provides nesting and shelter habitat for small birds; attractive to native bees and other pollinators\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought-tolerant once established; moderately frost hardy (tolerates light frosts to approximately −3 °C); coastal-tolerant (handles salt-laden winds and sandy soils); wind-tolerant; heat-tolerant through Adelaide summers; clay-tolerant; pollution-tolerant (suitable for streetscapes)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting Density:\u003c\/strong\u003e Informal wildlife hedge or screen: space 1.2–1.5 m apart (approx. 0.7–0.8 plants per metre run); formal clipped hedge: space 80 cm–1 m apart (approx. 1.0–1.2 plants per metre run); mass planting \/ revegetation: 1.5–2 m apart in staggered rows\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePet Friendly:\u003c\/strong\u003e Callistemon species are not listed on the ASPCA or major Australian veterinary toxic-plant databases as toxic to dogs or cats; however, as with all flowering plants, ingestion of large quantities of plant material or seed capsules is not recommended — keep pets supervised around any garden plant and contact your vet if unusual symptoms occur\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere It Works Best\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunlight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Thrives in full sun (6+ hours direct sun per day); tolerates light shade or semi-shade, though flowering density reduces noticeably with less than 4 hours of direct sun\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Highly adaptable — performs in clay, clay-loam, sandy loam, and loamy soils; tolerates poorly drained or periodically wet soils as well as dry, well-drained sandy soils; amend heavy clay with gypsum at planting to improve structure; avoid highly alkaline soils\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater Needs:\u003c\/strong\u003e Establishment (first 12–18 months): water 2–3 times per week in warm weather (spring\/summer), reducing to once per week in cooler months; apply a 7–10 cm layer of organic mulch at planting to conserve soil moisture. Established: in Adelaide's Mediterranean climate, deep watering every 2–3 weeks through summer and autumn is sufficient once the root system is fully developed; no supplemental irrigation required in winter or after significant rainfall\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaintenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low maintenance; tip-prune lightly immediately after each flowering flush to encourage a bushier habit, more prolific next-season blooms, and to prevent woody legginess; avoid cutting back into old hard wood; an annual light shaping is all that is typically required; responds well to harder renovation pruning if rejuvenation is needed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20–40+ years with appropriate siting; long-lived native shrub suited to permanent landscape plantings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClimate Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ideally suited to Adelaide's temperate Mediterranean climate; performs across coastal suburbs (e.g. Glenelg, Semaphore), the Adelaide Plains (e.g. Salisbury, Morphett Vale), inner metro, and the cooler Hills fringe (e.g. Stirling, Aldgate) up to approximately 400 m elevation; also suited to warm-temperate and sub-tropical zones further north in SA (Riverland, Clare Valley); avoid frost-prone hollows above 500 m elevation unless given frost-cloth protection in the first winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil pH:\u003c\/strong\u003e Prefers mildly acid to neutral soils (pH 5.5–7.0); tolerates slightly alkaline conditions but may show minor leaf chlorosis above pH 7.5; apply chelated iron if yellowing appears in alkaline soils\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLandscape \u0026amp; Design Ideas\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBoundary hedge or privacy screen:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 1–1.2 m apart in a single row for a dense, flowering screen reaching 2–2.5 m within 3–4 years — ideal for suburban boundary lines, noise buffers along busy roads, or garden rooms in larger Adelaide properties; the year-round foliage ensures privacy even outside flowering season\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBird-attracting wildlife garden:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mass-plant in groups of 3–5 alongside Grevillea 'Superb', Westringia, and native grasses to create a layered honeyeater corridor; the prolific spring–summer flowering provides an essential nectar source at the peak of the breeding season for Adelaide's resident and migratory honeyeaters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeature specimen in a large container or courtyard:\u003c\/strong\u003e Grown in a 60–80 L glazed pot or raised planter, Mary MacKillop Bottlebrush makes a dramatic flowering focal point for alfresco areas, courtyard gardens, or entry statements — its naturally tidy mounding habit requires minimal pruning to maintain a handsome form\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy You Will Love It\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMary MacKillop Bottlebrush is one of those rare plants that genuinely does it all — blazing scarlet flowers that set the garden alight in spring, dense evergreen foliage that screens and shelters year-round, and a tough, adaptable constitution that shrugs off Adelaide's dry summers, coastal winds, and heavy clay soils with equal ease. Whether you are planting a wildlife haven, a colourful boundary hedge, or a striking courtyard specimen, this Australian native delivers maximum reward for minimal effort — and fills your garden with the sound of honeyeaters every single spring.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adelaide Plant Co","offers":[{"title":"250mm Pot","offer_id":67783265124604,"sku":"CALL-HYBR-MARY-MACK-250MMPOT","price":53.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/9282\/0220\/files\/callistemon-hybrid-mary-mackillop-bottlebrush-250mm-pot-adelaide-plant-co.jpg?v=1792659861","url":"https:\/\/adelaideplantco.com.au\/products\/callistemon-hybrid-mary-mackillop","provider":"Adelaide Plant Co","version":"1.0","type":"link"}