Callistemon: description of species, planting and tips for growing

Callistemon in our area is considered an exotic plant, it comes from distant Australia. The plant is a shrub that is distinguished by its amazing inflorescences. They consist of a huge number of stamens, which, by the way, are very long and form peculiar brushes on the shoots. For this feature, the callistemon was nicknamed the "mnogo-chinochnik". Also, another name is often found - "Bengal candles".

Such shrubs fit perfectly into the interior of the house, creating a cozy atmosphere, and can serve as an excellent decoration for your garden or balcony. The plant is picky in care, which is why it is so popular among novice florists. The huge benefit of callistemon is that the plant is able to suppress the development of pathogenic microbes by releasing phytoncides.

The plant called callistemon belongs to the Myrtle family and is an evergreen tree as well as shrubs. The second name is krasotychnochnik. In natural nature, it can reach from 0.5 to 15 meters in height. However, specimens intended for decorative purposes are much more modest in size.

• The crown of the plant looks very dense. This is due to shoots that branch from the very base of the shrub.
• The lateral processes of callistemon are directed in different directions, on them there are small leaves, the surface of which is leathery.
• Lanceolate plates of leaves pointed at the edges are sequentially located on the shoots. Due to the presence of small glands on the surface of the leaves of callistemon, the plant is able to secrete essential oils.
• The callistemon flower consists of long, bunched stamens. He has no petals, the inflorescences are spike-shaped. The flowering period is early summer.
• In most cases, the bundles of stamens are red in color, but this does not mean that the range of colors is limited to only one shade. Different varieties of callistemon can be represented by white, yellow and golden inflorescences.
• Callistemon flower formations resemble a brush. Their length varies from 6 to 12 centimeters, and their width is 4-6 centimeters.
• In September, the plant begins to ripen its fruits. This is facilitated by small birds that pollinate the callistemon. The seeds are small brown beads, the shell of which is quite dense and woody.

The genus of beautiful grasshoppers has many different types of plants, in nature there are 37 of them. In our country, one of the most popular species is lemon callistemon. It is sometimes also called citrus. A representative of the family of this plant received this name for his pronounced aroma reminiscent of lemon. The citrus bush came to us from the southeastern part of the Australian continent.

The branches of the plant are spreading, its height on average can reach 2 meters. The leaves are lanceolate and dark green. Their length can reach 10 centimeters, and the maximum width is 8 centimeters. Violent flowering occurs in mid-summer.... The dense inflorescence of the tree has a crimson color.

The most popular varieties of citrus callistemon.

• White Anzac. A distinctive feature of the variety is the presence of a white inflorescence.The height of the ornamental shrub is 1.5 meters.
• "Reeves pink"... A characteristic feature of this variety is the presence of a pale pink inflorescence.
• Devens Rowena. The stamen inflorescences of this variety have a bright red hue, which smoothly turns into pale tones. When the flowers wither, they take on a light pink color. The shrub does not grow taller than 1.5 meters.
• "Mauve Mist"... This variety of a beautiful lilac plant differs from the others in that the flowers of the bush are painted in lilac color.

In addition to citrus callistemon, there are several other species that are very popular among gardeners.

• Pine-cast, beautifully grained plant. In this case, the peculiarity of the species can be understood by the name. The leaves are needle-shaped, so the trees look like needles. The length of the leaves can reach 12 centimeters, and the diameter is 0.15 centimeters. The foliage is painted lavender, and the inflorescences of the plant have flowers of yellow-green hues.
• Rod-shaped, beautiful-boreal plant... Trees of this species can grow up to 4-7 meters. The leaves of the plant are oval, very narrow in width. Their length is on average 5 centimeters. At the beginning of summer, callistemon gives its first flowers, the stamens of which are colored scarlet.
• Willow is a beautiful grassland. The plant differs from other species in its large size. The height of such a tree is 12 meters. The cylindrical flowers are colored in various shades of white, yellow, and pink.
• Wonderful krasotychnochnik. This species is usually grown indoors and is considered a potted plant. Such a callistemon loves coolness. Flowers have a variety of colors and are saturated with oil glands.

The reproduction process of a plant is carried out in two ways: by seeds and by cuttings.

• Cuttings. The advantage of this method is that during cultivation the plants do not lose their varietal characteristics. In the first step, cuttings should be cut, the length of which should be approximately 10 centimeters. It is important that each of them has at least 3 internodes. Before planting the plant, the cuttings should be treated with a special solution that stimulates the growth of the shrub. It is recommended to plant in greenhouse conditions, because growing callistemon requires an environment with a high level of humidity. Also, the place should be warm. It is necessary to regularly ventilate and moisturize the plant.
• Reproduction using seeds. The sowing process can be carried out from late summer to early spring. Greenhouse conditions are also great for growing callistemon from seeds, most importantly, regular airing. After the appearance of leaves (3-4 pieces), you can transplant beautifully-baked plants in small pots. Seedling growth will be insignificant. They add 3-5 centimeters a year.

The cultivation of a beautiful plant does not present any particular difficulties, it is enough just to adhere to some rules when planting a plant. To begin with, it is recommended to purchase planting material in the form of cuttings or seeds. The period from August to March is considered the most favorable for planting callistemon. The plant can be planted both in the open field and in a small pot. To prepare the soil for planting, you need four types of soil:

• sod land (4 parts);
• deciduous land (2 parts);
• peat (2 parts);
• river sand (1 part).

After preparing the mixture, you can plant seeds in it. It is not recommended to dig them into the soil too much - this will prevent the seedlings from germinating. By the way, for this reason, it is also much easier to grow a plant by cuttings.

After landing is complete, the plants are recommended to be covered with something, for example, with a transparent film. In some cases, glass is used. The plant loves sunlight and frequent watering, immediately after planting, it is necessary to saturate the callistemon with moisture 2 times a day. In this mode, the plant needs to be kept for about 3 weeks. During this period, the stalk will be able to root normally in the soil, and a seedling will sprout from the seeds. It is best to put seedlings indoors. to the eastern or western part, since in these places there is the greatest dispersion of daylight.

Paradox, but this exotic shrub does not tolerate heat well. In the winter season, the optimum temperature for it will be 14-16 degrees. In the summer season, the air temperature should not exceed 20-23 degrees. In summer, it is necessary to saturate the plant with additional moisture and constantly spray the plant.

If you want your plant to look beautiful and healthy, then you should adhere to some rules for caring for callistemon at home. This process will not take long. In order for the plant to develop well and bloom regularly, it is recommended to feed it with a special fertilizer. You should also prune the shrub.

• Warm seasons are ideal for feeding. This is a period of intense growth for Callistemon. Twice a month will be enough to fertilize the plant. It is best for this purpose to select special complexes on a mineral basis, designed for flowering plants. In winter, such procedures should not be carried out.
• Pruning is recommended to be carried out immediately after the flowering of a beautiful plant. After the flowers fall, small growths appear instead of them, which prevent the appearance of new flowers, and also spoil the aesthetic appearance of the plant. Many callistemon growers do extra pruning in spring. This helps the plant grow faster and also gives it a beautiful shape.

For information on how to properly cut and shape the crown of a callistemon, see below.