Cylindrical flower heads and citrus-scented leaves
The evergreen bottlebrush is distinguished by its striking, brush-like, cylindrical flower spikes with their long stamens, which continuously produce new blooms from late spring into autumn. When grown in pots or containers, it can easily be pruned back hard in spring to limit its growth to the desired height. Its alternate, somewhat leathery leaves reveal its membership in the myrtle family; they are silvery-hairy when they first emerge and have a faint citrus scent when crushed. In Australia, they are often added to tea to give it a refreshing aroma.
Natural Habitat : The shrub, also known as the crimson bottlebrush, is native to the southeastern Australian states of New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. There, it thrives in marshes near the coast and along rocky watercourses.
