Callistemon subulatus – Bush . (Bottlebrush/Tina Turner)

An outrageous shrub from Australia with appropriately Padam-Padam* red flowers, produced in scandalous profusion. We call them Tina Turners. Because…well, look at them. Hardy, reliable, and very Outback. Fantastic for a talking point and just lovely for their ease of maintenance and outright oddness. Astonishingly hardy: we’ve had them weather some frightful winters. It is often suggested that a sheltered and sunny site will suit them best, and we’d agree but also encourage you to be brave. They are drought tolerant when established in the ground because of their vigour and ability to plunge roots deep and far, but can be miserable - and dead - when baked into too-small pots and neglected. Australia is actually rather wet around the edges, where these come from, so bear this in mind. Actually the ancestors of ours come originally from the University of London Botanic Garden in Egham, Surrey, (also wet) where we took our first cuttings in 1988. The entire garden seems to have disappeared now which is very sad. Luckily, we have these little Aussie Battlers to offer you now. Oh and they hate chalk. No chalk. 

*If you know, you know.