Kings Park Special Bottlebrush

Callistemon hybrid

Location: On the south side of the small lake in front of the 8th tee.

This large bushy tree can grow up to 5 metres. It produces a profuse display of multiple crimson flowers in Spring and Summer. The leaves are narrow and dense. Seed pods firmly attach themselves to the smaller branches.

Kings Park Special is considered a Western Australian tree. It was raised from seed in the nursery of Kings Park and Botanic Garden and awarded recognition in 1980. It is a hybrid cross between C. viminalis and either C. citrinis or C. harkness. All three of these Callistemons are from the Eastern States. It produces fertile seeds, however propagation is usually through cuttings.

Kings Park Special Bottlebrush is easy to grow. It prefers moist well drained soil and full sun, and is drought tolerant when established. This tree is very effective as a screen or hedge.

“A tree is beautiful, but what’s more, it has a right to life; like water, the sun, and the stars, it is essential.” (Anton Pavlovich Chekhov)