bottle brush tree?

eferguson1974

Chumono
Messages
955
Reaction score
798
Location
North Carolina
USDA Zone
7a
Does anybody know if bottle brush trees work as sticks in pots? There are red and pink flowered types here. I like the red ones, the bark is fissured and gnarly looking. And theyre weeper like with small leaves. I saw a big one today with a baby branch, giving me the idea that it must backbud. But a search here had no results at all. I have tried rooting cuttings with no luck. Not in water or soil, with or without rooting hormone of two types. But they exist here, so Im looking for one or two. Ive had no luck with cuttings of the pink ones either, but they are very diferente'.
Maybe theres a reason noone uses them for bonsai? Ive always liked them growing up in Fl where like here, theyre ornamentals. So are they worth a shot?
 

eferguson1974

Chumono
Messages
955
Reaction score
798
Location
North Carolina
USDA Zone
7a
I saw a couple on google. No doubt I will try them if I get the chance. I will try cuttings again, but I hooe to find them in a nursery or a yard to dig up. They are awesome in the yard, so why not bonsai? I was suprised there are no threads about them. So I will change that!
 

Starfox

Masterpiece
Messages
2,602
Reaction score
5,317
Location
Costa Blanca, Spain, zone 10b
USDA Zone
10b
They are used quite a bit, Callistemon is hadns down one of the most spectacular species around and do very well as bonsai.
I picked one up not long ago as nursery stock, chopped it back and whacked it in a colander and so far it seems alive and well. I plan on having more too.
They should take from cuttings fairly easy in the right time of year. http://anpsa.org.au/callis2.html
 

tree3

Yamadori
Messages
71
Reaction score
31
Location
Florida Zone 11A
USDA Zone
11A
Hi

I don't know if this post is still active, but I was able to root a branch of Callistemon:

400px IMG_1241.jpg

400px IMG_1242.jpg
 

Nemoose

Mame
Messages
185
Reaction score
90
Location
Winter Haven Florida
USDA Zone
8B
0803181551a.jpg0804181202.jpg
This is one I picked up recently. I did some light root trimming and pruning and repotted in the nursery pot until spring. I have been pinching off the apical growth and it has begun to back bud quite a bit. I did cut off a couple major branches and it is forming some natural uros that I plan to carve and enhance later
 

tree3

Yamadori
Messages
71
Reaction score
31
Location
Florida Zone 11A
USDA Zone
11A
Where did you get it? It looks great. I live in Florida too and have not seen them in any nurseries here. I'm going to be trying with a thicker branch now.
 
Last edited:

Nemoose

Mame
Messages
185
Reaction score
90
Location
Winter Haven Florida
USDA Zone
8B
It was on the clearance rack at Lowes in Winter Haven. I got it for $7.50. I have tried rooting cuttings but haven't had much luck. Where are you locate
 

tree3

Yamadori
Messages
71
Reaction score
31
Location
Florida Zone 11A
USDA Zone
11A
Miami. You're fortunate to have found it, it looks very nice! It has a better trunk width than a branch!
 

tree3

Yamadori
Messages
71
Reaction score
31
Location
Florida Zone 11A
USDA Zone
11A
I'm going to try with a wider branch now. The one that sprouted is 1/2 inch.
 
Top Bottom