Callistemon viminalis 'Hannah Ray'
Hannah ray bottlebrush
Eastern Australia (New South Wales, Queensland)
Overview
'Hannah Ray' is a weeping cultivar of Callistemon viminalis (also classified as Melaleuca viminalis) reaching 15-20 feet (4.5-6.0 m) tall and 12-15 feet (3.7-4.5 m) wide, with strongly pendulous outer branches. Trunk single or multi-stemmed; bark gray-brown and fissured on mature plants. Narrow lance-shaped evergreen leaves are 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long and 0.1-0.3 inches (3-8 mm) wide, gray-green to dark green; new growth emerges bronze-pink and matures within 3-4 weeks. Cylindrical bottlebrush flower spikes, 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) long and 2 inches (5 cm) wide, are deep red with prominent stamens, produced primarily in spring with secondary flushes in fall. Woody capsular seed pods 0.2-0.3 inches (5-8 mm) wide persist along stems for 3-5 years. Hardy to about 18-20°F (-7 to -8°C); foliage damages below 22°F (-6°C). Salt-tolerant in coastal plantings up to 2,000 ppm. Susceptible to root rot in saturated clay soils; drainage failure causes decline within 2-3 weeks of waterlogging. Iron chlorosis develops on alkaline soils above pH 7.5; chelated iron applications correct symptoms within 4-6 weeks. Brittle wood breaks in heavy ice storms in zones 8-9.
Native Range
A cultivar of Callistemon viminalis (or Melaleuca viminalis), which is native to eastern Australia from northern New South Wales through Queensland. The species occurs along streambanks, riverbeds, and seasonally moist woodlands from sea level to 3,000 feet (900 m) elevation.Suggested Uses
Used as a small specimen tree, accent shrub, or screen, spaced 12-15 feet (3.7-4.5 m) apart in zones 9-11. Planted along driveways and patios as a 15-20 foot (4.5-6.0 m) specimen with pendulous branches and deep red bloom flushes. Grown in 25-30 gallon (95-114 L) containers; flowering decreases substantially in pots smaller than 25 gallons (95 L).How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height15' - 20'
Width/Spread12' - 15'
Reaches mature size in approximately 8 years
Colors
Bloom Information
April through June in zones 9-11, with peak bloom in May. Sporadic secondary flushes occur from August through October in zones 10-11 with summer rainfall or supplemental irrigation. Individual flower spikes last 2-3 weeks. Bloom delayed by 4-6 weeks in zone 8b where winter dieback shortens the active growing season.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
gray-green to dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Water weekly during the first growing season; established plants tolerate 3-4 weeks without rain in zones 9-11. Apply low-phosphorus fertilizer once in spring; high-phosphorus formulations cause leaf burn and dieback in this Callistemon spp.. Webbing caterpillars and scale insects feed on new growth in spring; horticultural oil applications reduce populations within 2-3 weeks. Root rot develops in heavy clay soils; mound plantings 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) above grade reduce loss in poorly drained sites. Container plants in pots smaller than 25 gallons (95 L) flower less and become rootbound within 4 years.Pruning
Prune lightly after the spring bloom flush, removing 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) of new growth on outer branches to maintain the weeping form. Remove crossing branches and basal suckers in late winter. Hard cutbacks below green foliage are poorly tolerated; plants cut back into bare wood often fail to regenerate. Annual light pruning maintains size; older specimens can be limbed up to expose the trunk.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 25 gallons