Callistemon Viminalis 'Wildfire'

Weeping Bottlebrush / Wildfire Bottlebrush

Botanical Name: Callistemon ‘Wildfire’ (syn. Melaleuca)
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Australia (garden cultivar)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

Overview

A striking bottlebrush with narrow fresh-green leaves and fiery scarlet–crimson brushes in spring, with spot flowers again in summer–autumn in warm spells. Tough, clip-tolerant and ideal for hedges, screens or specimens in South Australian gardens.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 2-4 m H x 2-3 m W
• Growth Rate: 30-60 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Narrow, fresh green; tidy branching; bronze/copper new growth
• Flowers: Scarlet to crimson bottlebrush spikes (spring; repeats in warm seasons)
• Seasonal Interest: Big spring show + repeat colour in warm months
• Wildlife Value: Attracts honeyeaters, native bees and other pollinators
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant (once established), heat-tolerant, wind-tolerant, second-line coastal-tolerant; light frost (protect from hard frost)
• Planting Density: Hedge/screen: 1 per metre (down to 0.7 m for very tight screens); Specimen: 1.5–2 m apart
• Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats & dogs

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (best bloom in sun)
• Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or clay loam (mound on heavy sites)
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer (weekly in heatwaves); minimal in winter
• Maintenance: Light prune after flowering flushes to keep dense; mulch; feed in early spring with low-P native fertiliser
• Lifespan: 15-25+ years
• Climate Zones: Temperate & Mediterranean SA, including coastal areas
• Soil pH: Acidic to neutral, tolerates slightly alkaline

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Privacy hedge/screen with bold colour
• Feature near entries/paths to draw birds
• Mass plant for low-maintenance structure and seasonal impact

Why You Will Love It

Showy crimson brushes, a bird-magnet habit and easy care—perfect for colourful hedging and resilient screening in South Australia