Bottle Brush

[Ann B.]

I finally found one at Lowe's. There were two, and this one was blooming.

I'm going to try to propagate it because I would love to have about 6 of them.

They are so much fun to see in the landscapes around here, but not many people have them. Over the years, I've noted where to look and often felt tempted to stop and ask if I could take a cutting.

[Dazed_Lily]

They are nice aren't they. Mom has one down in Florida. The birds and squirrels love to sit in it. I'd be interested in knowing how to propagate as well.

[Ann B.]

Cathy,

Does your Mom's produce seed?

[Tom]

My goodness, what a neat plant. I've never, ever seen one! But you did tweek my interest and I found that there are many different ones.

One site, from Australia lists a whole bunch of them. What a wide range! That site also gives some instructions on propagation.

http://www.anbg.gov.au/callistemon/index.html

Daves Garden also lists some, with additional propagation instructions. It seems that they are easy to propagate with both seed and cuttings. Now all I've got to do is find a source. Uh, that would be a "free" cuttings source by the way. :D (and NO ANN, I'm not driving all the way to Mobile for one)

Thanks for pointing me and others to this one ladies.

[Ann B.]

'Tis a cool plant, isn't it, TOM?

I have looked for this one for years, but was too shy to stop and ask those folks for a cutting.

I couldn't believe it when I saw the small plant in a one gallon pot at Lowes. I scarfed it up in an instant. I was tempted to buy both, but looked at the stems and thought I'd give it a chance at the ole propagating hand.

So, wish me luck and Tom, if I am successful, you have the first dibbs. Just remember that this is a one gallon plant and only two feet tall at the moment.

I have to manage to get the mother plant through the winter and depending on time, I may be able to make one or two cuttings, just to try. I suspect that it would be better to take cuttings during warmer weather. What do you think?

In the meantime, it is going in a bigger pot this weekend.

I DO like this one and have wanted it for a LONG TIME!

[Tom]

I should have listed the other web page, it has a little better instruction on cuttings. Indications are that it is fairly easy to propagate.

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/64223/index.html

Actually I guess I would have been 'looking for one', had I known about them.

[Ann B.]

Tom,

You'll like this! The bloom is a week old, at least, and is still as pretty as it was...

I see what looks like a few more blooms on several branches. Right now, it is only getting morning sun, and it appears to be quite happy.

I do like this plant!

[Dazed_Lily]

oops, sorry, I didn't see the question about seeds. I don't know; I'll look closer next time. But I do know that the birds and squirrels find the tree interesting for some reason--maybe there are seeds.