What is happening to my Australian Bottle Brush?

Hi peeps,

My bush looks like it is dying at the front, gone rather brownish and dry looking. Bottlebrushes disappeared some time ago now so assume thats it til next year. Also it has round things growing on the stems, are these seed pods?

My Aussie mate just laughs and says they are treated as weeds over there :(

The actual bushy branches are increasing in length tho which i pressume is a good sign? I'd say they are a good 10 inches longer than they were when i bought the bush earlier in the year.

Do i need to cut it back at all you reckon?

 

I dont think I would do any cutting back unless its really nesessary.
When the flowers die the shoot continues to grow out the end, usually to flower next year.
Cut it back and you may well cut off wood for next years flowering.
The small knobbly things on the stem where the flowers were are the seed capsules.

 

AAAAAAAAh it becomes clear Pete,

Can i pick the seed capsules off then?

:D :D :D

 

I lived in Western Australia for nine years and in my spare time I volunteered at a wildlife rescue home. I would not consider this shrub a weed as native wildlife feed off it ( I adopted a blind corella parrot who loved it) and as it grew wild in Australia it obviously wasn't pruned.

I would leave it to develop naturally.

TO

 

One left to grow natural from seed.

 

WOW Walnut that is a real beauty....if only I had the room!
Helen.xxx.

 

That is absolutely fantastic walnut ... how old is it? Is it actually one shrub? Mine has done very little this year, only a couple of brushes. My Meluleuca hasn't had a one, ever!

 

Wow Walnut That is fantastic. Do you think I could get away with growing one of those in Scotland.

 

Walnut,

That is a beautiful b.b. bush, i have three - 2 babies and one 4ft high, i look forward to their development with excitement now ive seen yours :D

 

Lol there is actualy 2 bushes nearly 6ft tall they are 3 years old I cut all the old flowers off just after they bloomed now there's tons of new growth which will hopefully bear next years flowers.Marion I don't see why you can't grow them in scotland mine has never had any winter protection, give ut a go.

 

Walnut you have inspired me. I will have a go.

 

WOW Walnut, what a superb plant, now "i have" to get a couple of them.

 

I grow about 50 or so a year from seed (and occasionally cuttings)6 diferent varieties, I still have some seed for members, PM me if you want some.

 

What I want to know is are they from a "wet" part of Australia rather than "dry" ... I think they are from NSW which is wetter. It's not just mine, but I don't see any nice specimens here, certainly not like walnut's. I saw a few nice ones on the IoW.

 

Walnut do you think it is too late to cut mine back a bit. I have had it in for 4 summers it has grown to nearly 5 ft but not bushy at all like yours and no where near as stunning, no comparison at all really. Guess i dont mind if i dont get flowers next year if there is a chance of it picking up as not impressed with it at all at the moment.