Callistemon citrinus lemon bottlebrush

Callistemon citrinus, Cedar Hall. Sairus Patel, 5 May 2021

Callistemon citrinus. John Rawlings, c. 2005

Callistemon citrinus, which has a less weeping habit than C. viminalis, can be seen at the Fire Station, behind Cedar Hall, and between Hulme and Building 86 in Escondido Village. Several plantings (2007) are in the Greenbelt about 200 yards south of Stanford Avenue on the west side of the path; these trees are staked.

A tall shrub or small tree, 10 to 30 feet high. Leaves narrow, about 3–4 inches long, sharp-pointed at the apex; coppery when new, mature leaves are vivid green and smooth on both surfaces, the midrib and lateral veins prominent. Flower-clusters 2 to 4 inches long, bright red, the stamens about 1 inch long. Capsules ovoid, contracted at the summit. Frequently cultivated in gardens and parks.

– adapted from Howard E. McMinn & Evelyn Maino, An Illustrated Manual of Pacific Coast Trees, 2d ed. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press.

· Callistemon and Melaleuca: Key to Species

Name derivation: Callistemon – Greek kalli, beautiful, and stemon, a stamen, in reference to the characteristic long, showy stamens; citrinus – lemony, scent of crushed leaves.