Bottlebrush
ExplorePlants
Bottlebrush
Melaleuca L.
Bottlebrush is a fun plant with bright red flowers that look like a bottlebrush! It attracts lots of hummingbirds.
Habitat: Gardens and parks
Appearance
The Bottlebrush has unique, cylindrical flower spikes that resemble a bottle brush cleaner, usually bright red, but also pink, yellow, or white. Its narrow, often stiff leaves grow along woody stems.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderMyrtalesFamilyMyrtaceaeGenusMelaleuca
Category
PlantsRarity
Rare
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Each 'brush' is actually hundreds of tiny individual flowers packed together!
Indigenous Australians historically used Bottlebrush for medicinal teas and tools.
Its leaves often smell like citrus or menthol when crushed, a natural bug repellent!
Some Bottlebrush seeds need heat from a fire to burst open and grow!
Special abilities
Ability
Fire Starter Resister
Bottlebrush can often resprout from its woody base or release seeds after a bushfire, helping it thrive.
Ability
Nectar Powerhouse
Bottlebrush produces abundant sweet nectar, attracting birds and insects for efficient pollination.
Ability
Thirsty Soil Conqueror
Bottlebrush has tough roots and leaves that help it survive long periods with very little water.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 100-500 cm
- Spread
- 100-400 cm
- Flower Size
- 5-15 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring to summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Bird
Ecological connections
pollinates
Eastern Spinebill
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
Feeds on the plant's abundant nectar.
pollinates
New Holland Honeyeater
Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
Consumes sweet nectar from the flowers.
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
Collects nectar and pollen from the blooms.
eats
Small Bottlebrush Sawfly
Pseudalmenus chlorinda
Larvae feed on the leaves of the plant.
Traits
Shrub
A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Also known as
Callistemon
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Bottlebrush?
100-500 cm
How wide does Bottlebrush spread?
100-400 cm
How big are the flowers on Bottlebrush?
5-15 cm
When does Bottlebrush bloom?
Spring to summer
Is Bottlebrush edible?
No
Is Bottlebrush toxic?
None
What is Bottlebrush's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Bottlebrush pollinated?
Bird
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
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Recent Snaps
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