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Lemon bottlebrush

Melaleuca citrina, commonly known as common red, crimson or lemon bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales and Victoria in Australia. (Callistemon citrinus and Callistemon lanceolatus is an older name.) It is a hardy and adaptable species, common in its natural habitat. Its showy red flower spikes, present over most of the year in an ideal situation, account for its popularity.

Melaleuca citrina is a shrub growing to 5 m (20 ft) tall but more usually in the range 1–3 m (3–10 ft) high and wide. The flowers are red and arranged in spikes on the ends of branches that continue to grow after flowering and sometimes also in the upper leaf axils. Melaleuca citrina occurs in near coastal areas of New South Wales, including the Blue Mountains and extends as far west as the Central Western Slopes. It also occurs in the east coast areas of Victoria and grows in swamps and along creeks and rivers.

The cultivar Splendens, is a form with a compact and rounded habit, growing to about 4 metres high and wide.

 

  • Category Flowering shrubs
  • Families Myrtaceae
  • Genus Melaleuca
  • Species citrinus "Splendens"
  • Geographical Area of Origin Oceania
  • Climatic Zones Sub-tropical, USDA 10 b (Southern Italy and islands)
  • Habit Shrub
  • Leaves Evergreen
  • Colore Foglie Verde
  • Flowering Period April / May / June / July / August / September / October
  • Flower Ear
  • Colore Fiori Rosso
  • Favorite soil Sub-acid / medium acid / Middle-Dough / Medium soil
  • Water needs Medium
  • Light Exposure Medium shade / Half shade / Full light / Full sun
  • Form Tree / Grown as shrub / bush
  • Colore Frutti Marrone
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