Red Cluster Bottlebrush Plant – Callistemon citrinus ‘Red Cluster’ (Live Starter Shrub)

The Red Cluster Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus ‘Red Cluster’), also known as crimson bottlebrush, is a showstopping evergreen with numerous pendulous branches covered in cherry-red, bottlebrush-shaped blooms from late spring through summer. Those nectar-rich flowers are absolutely irresistible to hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, and the soft, lemon-scented foliage stays a bright, fresh green year-round. With a densely compact, upright habit, the Red Cluster Bottlebrush works beautifully as a small flowering tree, screen, hedge, or container accent.

Why Grow a Red Cluster Bottlebrush?

• Brilliant cherry-red blooms – bottlebrush-shaped flower spikes cover the plant from late spring through summer, with intermittent blooms in warm months.
• Hummingbird & pollinator magnet – the red flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
• Tough & drought-tolerant – once established it shrugs off heat and dry spells, and it’s moderately salt-tolerant for coastal yards.
• Versatile form – grow it as a large shrub, train it into a single- or multi-trunk small tree, or keep it as a hedge or container specimen.
• Evergreen & deer-resistant – bright green, lemon-scented foliage all year, and deer tend to leave it alone.

Want more pollinator-friendly color? Browse our Flowering Plants and Shrubs & Bushes collections.

Plant Specifications at a Glance

• Botanical name: Callistemon citrinus ‘Red Cluster’ (crimson bottlebrush; also classified as Melaleuca citrina)
• Plant type: Evergreen flowering shrub or small tree
• Plant family: Myrtaceae (the myrtle family)
• Mature size: a compact, upright grower reaching about 12–15 feet tall and 8–10 feet wide
• Bloom season: Late spring through summer, with intermittent blooms in warm months
• Flowers: Cherry-red, bottlebrush-shaped spikes
• Wildlife: Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees; deer-resistant
• Cold Hardiness Zones: 8–11 (the hardiest of the bottlebrushes; protect from frost in zone 8)

Red Cluster Bottlebrush Care & Growing Guide

The Red Cluster Bottlebrush is adaptable and easy to grow. Follow these simple guidelines:

• Sunlight: Thrives in full sun and tolerates light shade. Full sun produces the most flowers.
• Water: Water regularly to establish a strong root system, with more frequent watering in extreme heat. Once mature, it needs only occasional watering and is drought-tolerant.
• Soil: Adaptable to a variety of soils; prefers well-drained soil. Avoid very alkaline or poorly drained sites.
• Cold Hardiness Zone: 8–11. In zone 8, give it a sheltered spot and frost protection during hard cold snaps.
• Pruning: Prune often to encourage new growth and shear annually to maintain your desired shape — it tolerates pruning well and even regenerates from hard cuts. Pruning right after flowering keeps it tidy and blooming.

Ways to Use Red Cluster Bottlebrush in the Landscape

• Small specimen or accent tree for limited spaces
• Screens, hedges, and background plantings
• Groupings and mass plantings
• Hummingbird and pollinator gardens
• Large containers and patio focal points

It pairs well with other sun-loving, pollinator-friendly plants. Gardeners often combine it with the silvery Texas Sage, the colorful Ruby Loropetalum, or the native Wax Myrtle.

What You’ll Receive

These are live Red Cluster Bottlebrush starter plants grown and shipped by Carlos Plant Farm. Plants are less than 12 inches tall when we ship them. The photos in this listing depict mature plants of the correct species so you can see how they will look as they grow and bloom. Choose your preferred plant bundle size using the options above.

Due to different state laws, we reserve the right to charge extra fees in order to comply with those laws if necessary.

Terms of the Sale

Please read the following terms of the sale completely. The customer agrees to all of the following when purchasing from Carlo’s Plant Farm:

• All sales are final. All orders are insured against damage or loss.
• The customer assumes all risk of loss or damage once USPS takes possession. If the order is damaged in any way during shipping, the customer agrees to file an insurance claim. Carlo’s Plant Farm agrees to assist the customer in filling out the form.
• Once your order is shipped, we offer no cancellation refund at all.
• We reserve the right to delay shipping due to extreme heat or cold.
• If you are unhappy with your order for any reason, you agree to contact us as soon as possible. The customer agrees not to publish a negative review before contacting us. If you post a negative review before contacting us, we will ask you to take down the review and remind you of this terms of sale agreement.

In purchasing from Carlo’s Plant Farm, the customer acknowledges, understands, and agrees with all the above terms of the sale.