Bottlebrush shrubs deserve their place in the sun.

Bottlebrush shrubs
Often overlooked, Bottlebrush shrubs are among the most durable shrub choices you’ll find throughout Sarasota County and beyond.

Bottlebrush shrubs often take a back seat to their tree-form counterparts, maybe because they’re always thought of as – well, trees. There’s the Weeping Bottlebrush tree, the Crimson Bottlebrush tree and even the White Bottlebrush tree.

But Bottlebrush shrubs are among the hardiest shrubs you’ll find in Southwest Florida, especially because their unique foliage grows full to the ground. Dotted with the same scarlet red blooms, they love the sun, grow quickly and attract pollinators, too. Install as a dense hedge (three to four feet part) or as a large specimen plant, and you’ll be delighted by their feathery foliage tipped with brush-like flowers. They also serve as a spectacular anchor for plant beds.

Bottlebrush shrubs
Install Bottlebrush shrubs as a hedge or large specimen plant. These are paired with Silver Buttonwood shrubs and will fill in nicely as they mature.

Caring for your Bottlebrush shrubs.

Like Bottlebrush trees, these shrubs require regular watering and full to part sun. They’ll grow up to 10 feet but you can maintain them at six to eight. Shape to taste during the year if you want to keep an even, rounded look, but prune back in late March or early April so they’ll stay nice and full. Other than that, all you need to do is fertilize with a quality granular product spring, summer and fall.

Bottlebrush shrubs
This privacy screen of Bottlebrush shrubs and Silver Buttonwoods pleases the eye with contrasting colors and textures. Photographed in Venice, FL.

Tree or shrub form? Which works best?

Well, that’s a matter of personal preference. But ArtisTree Landscape Designer Elisabeth Owen prefers the shrub form. “I think using Bottlebrush in the shrub form is certainly a better idea versus the tree form,” she says. “The trees are shallow rooted and susceptible to going down in high winds if planted in a saturated location ( shallow roots). They’re cold hardy, though, and appear on many plant lists. It’s important to space them adequately apart since they grow large and wide. A good screening choice.”

Bottlebrush shrubs
A pair of Bottlebrush shrubs flanks a Bracken’s Brown Beauty magnolia tree on a large property near Concession Golf & Country Club.

Call ArtisTree Landscape 941.488.8897

ArtisTree HOA landscape maintenance

To get your landscape renovation started now, browse ArtisTree’s portfolio and then call Jenni Lassen at 941.488.8897, ext. 312, to meet with one of our award-winning designers. We proudly serve Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties.

ArtisTree also provides complete landscape maintenance services for HOA communities throughout Southwest Florida. Contact Michael Casper at 941.488.8897, ext. 321, for your custom proposal.  

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