Callistemon viminalis Hannah Ray - Weeping bottlebrush

The weeping bottlebrush or Callistemon viminalis ‘Hannah Ray’ (now renamed Melaleuca viminalis ‘Hannah Ray’) is characterised by a graceful, strongly trailing habit. In spring, the shrub is adorned with long red, nectar-rich inflorescences that may repeat in summer. It has a charming, exotic appearance, whether planted in a row, as a specimen near a terrace, or in a large container. In cold winter regions, protect it from frost as you would a citrus tree.

Highly ornamental, Callistemon viminalis ‘Hannah Ray’ belongs to the Myrtaceae family. The type species is native to eastern Australia, where it colonises riverbanks and sandy riverbeds in Queensland and New South Wales. The epithet viminalis derives from Latin vimen ("osier twig") and refers to its naturally trailing, flexible branches.
A horticultural selection dedicated to Hannah Ray in the 20th century, this cultivar is prized for its particularly weeping habit and abundant flowering. In cultivation, it is a shrub or small tree of medium to fast growth, with dark brown bark that splits with age.
The evergreen foliage consists of linear to narrowly lanceolate leaves 3–7cm long and 3–7mm wide, rich in aromatic glands. In open ground, a well-established specimen commonly reaches 3–5m tall with a spread of 2.50–4.50m in mild climates; when grown in a large container, it can easily be kept to 1.5–2.5m tall and 1.2–2m wide with light pruning just after flowering. It responds well to renovation pruning.
Flowering occurs mainly in spring and into early summer. Further flushes may appear until autumn in favourable conditions. The cylindrical flower spikes measure 4–10cm in length and 3–6cm across: the small petals soon fall, and the spike's colour comes mainly from the red stamens, clustered in tufts around an axis that continues to elongate after blooming. Rich in nectar, this flowering attracts many pollinating insects. The fruits are small woody capsules, 5–6 mm, persisting on the wood, releasing fine seeds when ripe in late summer to autumn.
Provide it with well-drained soil, neutral to slightly acid, regular watering for the first two years, then more spaced out, and prune just after flowering to contain its spread and encourage new flowering shoots.

Hardy down to -8/-10°C, Callistemon 'Hannah Ray' makes a very fine orangery plant in cold climates. In a mild, sunny garden, it can be used as a small tree near a terrace, as a specimen on a lawn, at the top of a large bank, or along a path border where its branches can trail freely. Placed near a south-facing wall, it benefits from a microclimate that improves its flowering and hardiness; it is also a good plant for coastal gardens, but needs shelter from strong winds and sea spray.
To create a long-lasting border, combine it with undemanding plants for light soil, for example Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’, Leptospermum scoparium ‘Red Damask’ and Grevillea ‘Canberra Gem’.