Melaleuca linearis var. linearis

Stiff Bottle Brush is a bushy, broadleaf evergreen, tropical shrub native to Australia in the myrtle family. It will typically mature to an upright plant with a height of 8 feet and a width that is slightly larger. The plant produces showy red flowers in a bottle brush-like configuration that bloom throughout the year. Leaves have a lemony scent when bruised. The genus name comes from the Greek melas meaning black and leukos meaning white because the trees often have a black trunk and white branches.

Stiff Bottle Brush does best in full sun, which encourages blooms, with medium moisture in fertile, well drained soil. It is winter hardy to USDA Zones 9 and 10, but will need protection if grown outside in colder climates. Once established, Stiff Bottle Brush does tolerate some soil dryness. If pruning is desired, prune immediately after flowering.

It makes an excellent specimen plant or when grown as a 3 to 5 foot hedge in frost free areas or when grown in containers or as a houseplant in colder climates.  In general, plants in the Melaleuca genus are moderately salt tolerant and tend to do well on the coastal plain of North Carolina. M. linearis also does well in the Piedmont.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for spider mites and scale, particularly on indoor plants. Root rot may occur in poorly drained soils.