Red Bottlebrush

 By Geoff Holloway

Red Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis), commonly known as weeping bottlebrush or creek bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, growing to 10 m tall with hard, fibrous, furrowed bark, a number of trunks and usually pendulous branches.

The flowers are bright red and are arranged in spikes on and around the ends of branches Flowering occurs from September to December.

The wood is hard, heavy, tough, and close grained, used for tool handles and fuel. Not a popular craft wood but when machined or turned it finishes nicely with a bright red colour.

The plant has been reported to have various medicinal values such as antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant activities and other pharmaceutical and insecticidal properties.