Callistemon citrinus violaceus

Callistemon citrinus violaceus is the bottlebrush plant most gardeners have never seen: instead of the familiar crimson, its brushes open a smoky violet-purple, hundreds of silky stamens in a colour that looks borrowed from a jacaranda. Against the lemon-scented, evergreen foliage the effect is deeply exotic yet entirely achievable in a sheltered UK garden.Like all callistemons it is tough, wind-tolerant and loved by bees. Rated H3, it takes around -7C once established, growing freely in mild and coastal gardens and thriving against a warm wall inland. Flushes of silky new growth add a soft pink shimmer through the season.How and where to grow Position: full sun, sheltered; superb on a warm wall. Soil: free-draining, acid to neutral; avoid shallow chalk and winter wet. Size: to around 2-3 m; easily kept smaller after flowering. Hardiness: H3, around -7C established. Grow it beside the creamy Callistemon pallidus 'Bianco' and red C. salignus for a full bottlebrush spectrum, at the heart of an exotic border, in a coastal planting, or in a large pot among our plants for pots. The nectar keeps it in our pollinator collection too.Nursery-grown, well-budded plants. Winter honesty in our seasonal expectations guide.