# crimson bottlebrush (*Melaleuca citrina*)

The crimson bottlebrush is a colorful shrub with bright red flowers that look like tiny brushes! It attracts many bees and birds, making it a lively part of the garden.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Urban areas

![crimson bottlebrush](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Callistemon_citrinus-0878.jpg&width=800)

Photo: DirkHoffmann, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Callistemon_citrinus-0878.jpg)

## Appearance

The crimson bottlebrush has vivid, cylindrical flower spikes that are bright red, resembling a bottle-cleaning brush. Its narrow, green leaves offer a striking contrast to the vibrant blooms, making it easily recognizable.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Myrtales
- **Family:** Myrtaceae

## Interesting facts

- If you gently crush its leaves, they release a fresh, lemon-like scent!
- Its bright red flowers can attract tiny sunbirds and honeyeaters from far away!
- The plant’s scientific name, citrina, comes from the citrusy smell of its leaves!
- These tough plants can grow back even after a bushfire, hiding new buds under their bark!

## Special abilities

- **Nectar Powerhouse:** Crimson bottlebrush flowers produce abundant, sweet nectar that attracts birds and insects, vital for pollination.
- **Fire Rescuer:** Crimson bottlebrush has special buds hidden under its bark, allowing it to regrow even after intense bushfires.
- **Drought Buster:** Crimson bottlebrush can survive long dry periods once established, thanks to its resilient root system.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-500 cm
- **Spread:** 100-300 cm
- **Flower Size:** 6-10 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Bird

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** New Holland Honeyeater (*Phylidonyris novaehollandiae*) — Feeds on nectar, helping spread pollen.
- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from the vibrant flowers.
- **Shelter:** Superb Fairywren (*Malurus cyaneus*) — Builds nests and hides amongst its dense branches.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always be gentle around plants and avoid touching unknown plants without asking an adult.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify crimson bottlebrush?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is crimson bottlebrush?

100-500 cm

### How wide does crimson bottlebrush spread?

100-300 cm

### How big are the flowers on crimson bottlebrush?

6-10 cm

### When does crimson bottlebrush bloom?

Spring to summer

### Is crimson bottlebrush edible?

No

### Is crimson bottlebrush toxic?

None

### What is crimson bottlebrush's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Crimson Bottlebrush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crimson-bottlebrush)