Melaleuca paludicola
river bottlebrush
Overview
Melaleuca paludicola, the river bottlebrush, is an evergreen shrub to small tree in the family Myrtaceae, growing 10-20 feet (3-6 m) tall and 6.6-13 feet (2-4 m) wide, formerly known as Callistemon sieberi. The narrow, stiff leaves are 1-2.4 inch (2.5-6 cm) long, grey-green, with a sharp point and silky hairs on the new growth. In late spring and summer the branch tips carry cylindrical bottlebrush spikes 1.2-2.4 inch (3-6 cm) long, made of many cream to pale yellow flowers with prominent stamens, sometimes flushed pink in bud. Small woody capsules form in clusters along the stems and persist for years. Melaleuca paludicola grows naturally along rivers and creeks and on floodplains in south-eastern Australia, and it tolerates seasonal flooding, waterlogging, and drought once established. It is frost-hardy and adapts to most soils. The dense habit and reliable summer flowering suit it to screening and streamside planting, though older plants can become woody at the base.
Native Range
Melaleuca paludicola is native to south-eastern Australia, in New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory. It grows along rivers and creeks, on floodplains, and in other seasonally wet sites.Suggested Uses
Used as a screen, windbreak, and nectar shrub, and for streamside, rain-garden, and wet-area planting where many shrubs fail. It suits informal hedging and bird-attracting gardens and copes with both boggy and drier sites.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height10' - 20'
Width/Spread6'7" - 13'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs mainly in late spring and summer, around November to February in its native range. The cream to pale yellow bottlebrush spikes are rich in nectar and draw honeyeaters, lorikeets, bees, and other nectar feeders. Woody capsules develop afterward and hold seed on the stems until released.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Cream to pale yellowFoliage Description
Grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 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
Grow Melaleuca paludicola in full sun to part shade on most soils, from sandy loam to clay, including wet and seasonally flooded ground. It tolerates waterlogging as well as drought once established, and it is frost-hardy. Water regularly while young, after which it copes with both wet and dry spells. Prune after flowering to keep the plant dense, as it reshoots well from older wood. A light feed in spring supports growth and flowering on poorer soils.Pruning
Prune after flowering, cutting back the spent flower spikes into leafy wood to keep the plant dense and bushy. It reshoots readily from older wood and tolerates fairly hard renewal pruning. Removing lower growth lifts it into a small single- or multi-stemmed tree.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 10 gallons