Lemon Bottlebrush Garden

Description

The Lemon Bottlebrush garden brings attention to a wide range of water conserving plant species that come from Australia and South Africa. For this palette, the Lemon bottlebrush is the signature tree that easily combines with many good companion plants such as Little John bottlebrush, Kangaroo paws, and Pink melaleuca that also come from Australia. The Medicinal aloe, Coral aloe and Blue fingers come from South Africa and diversify this palette with their bold colors and succulent character. This list includes many plants that are well sized to fit residential scale garden spaces and that grow with low maintenance needs.

Plant List

Trees

Callistemon citrinus

Common Name: Lemon bottlebrush
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 15 ft. - 25 ft. Width: 15 ft. - 20 ft.

Shrubs

Alyogyne huegelii + cv

Common Name: Blue hibiscus
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 6 ft. - 10 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 10 ft.

Callistemon ‘Little John’

Common Name: Dwarf bottlebrush
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 10 ft.

Dodonaea viscosa ‘Purpurea’

Common Name: Purple hopseed bush
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 ft. - 18 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 12 ft.

Grevillea ‘Noellii’

Common Name: Noell's Grevillea
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.

Lantana camara + cvs

Common Name: Lantana
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 6 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 8 ft.

Leptospermum laevigatum + cvs

Common Name: Australian tea tree
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 15 ft. - 25 ft. Width: 15 ft. - 25 ft.

Melaleuca nesophila

Common Name: Pink melaleuca
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 10 ft. - 18 in. Width: 15 ft. - 20 ft.

Westringia fruticosa

Common Name: Coast rosemary
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 6 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 8 ft.

Perennials

Anigozanthos + cvs

Common Name: Kangaroo paws
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 8 in. - 3 ft. Width: 1 ft. - 3 ft.

Convolvulus sabiatus

Common Name: Ground morning glory
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 1 ft. - 2 ft. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Verbena bonariensis

Common Name: Purpletop vervain
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 6 ft. Width: 3 ft.

Verbena lilacina ‘De La Mina’

Common Name: Lilac verbena
Plant Type: Perennial, Native
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 2 ft. - 3 ft. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Ground Covers and Vines

Bulbine frutescens ‘Hallmark’

Common Name: Orange bulbine
Plant Type: Ground cover, Perennial
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 1 ft. - 2 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.

Lantana montevidensis

Common Name: Trailing lantana
Plant Type: Shrub, Ground cover
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 in. - 18 in. Width: 5 ft. - 10 ft.

Lantana x ‘New Gold’

Common Name: New Gold lantana
Plant Type: Shrub, Ground cover
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 2 ft. Width: 6 ft.

Succulents

Aloe striata

Common Name: Coral aloe
Plant Type: Aloe
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 12 in. - 24 in. Width: 12 in. - 24 in.

Aloe vera

Common Name: Medicinal aloe
Plant Type: Aloe
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 18 in. - 24 in. Width: 18 in. - 24 in.

Aloe x nobilis

Common Name: Golden toothed aloe
Plant Type: Aloe
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 24 in. - 30 in. Width: 3 ft. - 4 ft.

Horticultural Preferences

Plants included in the Lemon Bottlebrush palette are all adapted to sunny conditions, summer heat, winter cold, and low amounts of supplemental water during the summer. Some of the foliage plants will benefit from protection from hot afternoon summer sun while succulents respond to the sun with more intense foliage colors.

Aesthetic Character

The aesthetic character of the Lemon Bottlebrush Garden can become very intense and bold due to the coarse textures, hot colors and diverse shapes among the various plants. Both festive and dramatic planting combinations can be achieved for year around interest.

Moisture Needs

The chart shown below provides a baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed throughout the average year. The high and low range of this irrigation schedule indicates these plants can grow with varying amounts of water depending upon exposure conditions and maturity of plants. Rains during the winter months noted by an asterisk (*) can provide sufficient moisture to eliminate the need for winter irrigation.

Irrigation Schedule and Graph

Low Water Use Plants

Irrigation Schedule 2

	Jan*	Feb*	Mar*	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov*	Dec*
Runs per Month	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x
Inches per Run	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"

Inches per Month	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"

Range of supplemental summer water: 7"-14"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"

0"-2"

1"-2"

0"-2"

Jan*

Feb*

Mar*

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov*

Dec*

For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, click here.