bottle brush plant

Does anyone know if you can grow a bottlebrush plant from seed?

 

Technically yes but in their first year outside they are flaky.

I hope mine will survive. Taken today so hopefully....the summer....

 

Hello g_f. I must admit I bought mine 5 foot tall to begin with for about tenner (English money) as I can be very lazy and like "instant garden" so I've never attempted it from seed.

What kind of Callistemon is that, John, with spikey leaves?

Strongy (or perhaps walnut) is the one to answer this question as he does them from seed regularly. No doubt he'll come along later.

Mine is full of buds (if that's what they are called) and should be blooming in a couple of weeks.

 

Sorry LoL can't remember exactly what it is, I had it given. I was told, and also told about the leaves. I will no doubt remember after a litre. :D Seriously, I will ask the guy who gave me the seed and let you know.

 

LOL itook a photo and posted it under Duthy Park and i thought one of the plants in it was an australian bottle brush,i would be interested to see if it was thanks kathy

 

GF, they are very easy from seed the main problem can be that at first the seedlings are minute, as are the seeds.
But get them over that stage and they grow pretty quickly.
About now is a good time to start.

John, I'd like to know what that is aswell, some strange aussie plant is it?

 

I was given them as bottlebrush seed of some kind Pete by my Aussie mate who originally came from Lancashire. Maybe it's a Bootle Brush?

I will email him and ask what type.

 

I reckon its a dryandra or a banksia maybe.

Bootle, nearly missed that one, you jokes really are getting more subtle. :D

 

I have a coast Banksia, also young. Have I photoed the wrong one? I an not checking tonight but I know they are close together in the bed.

 

So, it is a bottlebrush, pete? I don't know this holly/mahonia leaved looking one ... but I'm not an expert on them.

Here is a pic of walnut's beautiful ones (hope you don't mind walnut, think you know I have it on my screensaver ... along with pete's Chilopsis ) ...



I can only dream mine will look like that but mine is a Viminalis.

 

LoL. why have you got a picture of Pete's Chilopsis? He didn't even give his wife a picture of his Chilopsis.

I am still licenced though and can remove it very cheaply even though I shake a little nowadays.

 

That really is a good one LoL and walnut.
Was it from seed, do you know?

If thats a banksia and its survived the winter John, you really do need to look after it, could be a bit special.

 

That's a secret, John ... I'll never tell.

 

http://asgap.org.au/b-ser.html

Could be it John

 

Garden fiend, Bottlebrushes (Callistemon) are very easy to grow from seed, but as Pete says the seed is like dust and should be sown thinly. I usually grow about 50 a year at work of different varieties, They just need a germinating temperature of 22/24c and do not cover the seed, they germinate fairly quickly sometimes in two weeks depending on temperature. I have grown three year old seed so freshness isn't an issue.
If sown now they should be at least a foot high by the end of summer but should not be put outside till the second year. I normally pinch the tip out when about 6ins high to induce bushier growth as they can get straggly.
Have you some seed to sow? Do you want some? I have thousands. I have ten different varieties.

Definitely not a Callistemon John but you probably realise that by now.