Callistemon citrinus Stapf   =C. lanceolatus   Myrtaceae (Myrtle Family)   Australia   Lemon Bottle Brush

                                         April Photo

Plant Characteristics: Shrub to 12 ft. (30 ft. in the wild), with erect or spreading branches; lvs. lanceolate, 1-3 in. long, about .25 in. wide obtuse or acute, midvein prominent but lateral veins obscure, new growth coppery colored, then vivid green; spikes near the ends of branches, very dense, to 5 in. long; each fl. sessile in axil of deciduous floral lf., petals 5, spreading, deciduous;  stamens many in several series, rich red, about 1 in. long; caps. ovoid, contracted at summit. 

Habitat:  Escape from cultivation.  Flowers in cycles throughout the year.  (Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book 1984. 213).

Name:  Calliste-mon, Greek for beauty and stamen.  (Bailey 725).  Citrunus, citrus-leaved. (Bailey 13).  Latin, citr, citrus and Latin, inus,  suffix added to noun stems to form adjectives meaning belonging to.  (Jaeger 58,129).  The leaf shape does not resemble any citrus I am familiar with.  (my comment).

General:  Uncommon in the study area with only a few plants found. the first along Back Bay Dr. between Big Canyon and Eastbluff Dr. This single plant has been destroyed either by accident or by someone who saw it as an invader in the estuary.  To my amazement, the plant has regrown and the April 2002 photographs are shown on the Web page. The second plants were found at North Star Beach in May 2006.  (my comments).        Often known in the nursery trade as Metrosideros floribunda. The species resemble each other very closely and are difficult of determination, particularly as there are apparent hybrids.  (Bailey 725).    The best-selling bottlebrush, most tolerant of heat, cold and most adverse soils.  Hummingbirds love the flowers.  (Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book 1984. 213).

Text Ref:  Bailey 725; Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book 1984, 213.

Photo Ref:  Feb 99 #15A; Nov-April 01-02 #17A,18A.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by John Johnson.

First Found: February 1999.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 512.

Plant specimen donated to UC Riverside in 2004.

Last edit 5/31/06.  

                                      April Photo                                                                               February Photo