{"product_id":"callistemon-salignus","title":"Callistemon salignus (Willow Bottlebrush)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eCallistemon salignus\u003c\/strong\u003e, known as the \u003cstrong\u003ewillow bottlebrush\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003ered bottlebrush\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most elegant and reliable of the bottlebrushes for a warm British garden. It earns its name from slender, willow-like evergreen leaves that emerge a glowing coppery-pink before settling to fresh green, topped in early summer by vivid crimson-red bottlebrush flower spikes that hum with bees. Sun loving and exotic, it brings an Australian accent to a sheltered border or a sunny patio pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a plant for the warmest corner of the garden. Rated RHS H2 and holding the RHS Award of Garden Merit, it is tender in most of the UK, best given a frost-free winter in colder gardens or a warm, sheltered wall in the mildest coastal spots. Plant it in a warm, sheltered spot with sharp drainage, and protect the crown with fleece during hard frosts. Get that right and it rewards you with a long, generous flowering season and lemon-scented, evergreen foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun in the warmest, most sheltered spot you have, ideally against a south or west facing wall.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e fertile, sharply drained neutral to acid soil; it dislikes very alkaline ground and prefers sharp drainage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e slowly reaching around 4 to 8 m in ideal conditions, though easily kept smaller in a pot or with light pruning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e borderline hardy, so give sharp drainage and protect in hard, prolonged frosts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater regularly through the first couple of summers to build a strong root system, then ease off as it establishes. It is a natural for a hot, free-draining border and thrives among other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e, where it makes a lovely partner in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border plantings\u003c\/a\u003e. In milder coastal gardens it is a superb, wind-tolerant choice for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed spots\u003c\/a\u003e, and in colder areas it grows happily as a moveable specimen among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e that can be sheltered over winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe red bottlebrush spikes are magnets for bees and other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003epollinators\u003c\/a\u003e, making this a beautiful and useful addition to a wildlife-friendly garden. As with all our Hardy Exotics, do read our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide for seasonal care, and rest assured every plant we supply is nursery-grown, carefully selected for a healthy shape and strong roots, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":57974446293375,"sku":"CALLSALI19","price":17.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/iStock-2256968937.jpg?v=1784325730","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/callistemon-salignus","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}