Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Weeping Bottlebrush
Weeping Bottlebrush is a fast evergreen that grows into a large shrub or small tree with long, drooping branches. Bright red bottlebrush flowers cover it in spring and show up again through the year, and bees and hummingbirds visit them. It handles full sun and reflected heat, and it works as a tall screen or a weeping accent near a wall or water feature. Once rooted it needs only low water.
Best for: tall evergreen screens, weeping accents beside walls and buildings, plantings near water features, and hummingbird and bee gardens in full sun.
Space plants about 12 to 20 feet apart for a tall, soft screen along a back wall. Each one grows about 15 to 30 feet tall and 10 to 20 feet wide, and it grows fast.
Its long drooping branches make a strong accent beside a wall, courtyard or tall building. A spot like that also protects it from strong wind and cold air.
Planted near a pond or fountain it gives a lush, green look. It still needs only deep, infrequent water once rooted.
It does poorly in windy, open spots, and a freeze near 20°F can damage it. Soil that stays wet or very alkaline can turn the leaves yellow.
- Screen row12 ft apart, center to center
- Looser screen or single plants20 ft apart, center to center
Water a new plant every few days at first and stretch it out over the first two months. Once rooted, water deeply and not too often, mainly in summer, and less in winter.
Yellow leaves mean it is short on iron, usually from wet or alkaline soil. Water less often and add an iron product for plants.
Remove crossing branches after the spring bloom while the plant is young. Lift the lower branches over time if you want a tree form.
Strong wind and hard frost can damage it. Plant it near a wall or building, and cover it with frost cloth or a sheet, not plastic, on nights near 20°F.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does weeping bottlebrush get?
It grows about 15 to 30 feet tall and 10 to 20 feet wide, as a large shrub or small multi-trunk tree. Leave it that much room when you plant it.
How fast does weeping bottlebrush grow?
It grows fast, with most growth in spring. That makes it a quick choice for a tall screen.
How far apart should I plant weeping bottlebrush?
Plant it about 12 to 20 feet apart, closer for a screen and wider for single plants. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your row.
How often should I water weeping bottlebrush?
Once it is rooted, water deeply and not too often, mainly in summer. It takes dry spells once it is rooted.
Why are my bottlebrush leaves turning yellow?
Yellow leaves mean it is short on iron, often from soggy or alkaline soil. Water less often and add an iron product.
When does weeping bottlebrush bloom?
The big flush of red bottlebrush flowers comes in spring. It often blooms again in fall, and sometimes on and off through the year.
Does weeping bottlebrush attract hummingbirds?
Yes. Bees visit the red flowers most, and hummingbirds come for them too.
Can weeping bottlebrush take reflected heat?
Yes, it grows in full sun and handles reflected heat off walls and paving. Give it a deep soak now and then through the summer.
How cold hardy is weeping bottlebrush?
It is rated to about 20°F, and frost near that can damage it. Plant it near a wall or building, out of cold wind, for the best results.
How do I prune weeping bottlebrush?
Train it while it is young by removing crossing branches after the spring bloom. Remove lower branches over time if you want a tree form.
What is the difference between weeping bottlebrush and dwarf bottlebrush?
They are the same species. Weeping bottlebrush grows into a 15 to 30 foot tree-like shrub, while the dwarf forms stay about 3 feet tall and show yellow leaves more often.
Is weeping bottlebrush toxic to dogs and cats?
It is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
Weeping Bottlebrush for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Weeping Bottlebrush is the large, tree-like bottlebrush with long drooping branches and red flower brushes in spring. It grows fast, stays green all year and takes Valley sun and reflected heat. Below is what to expect, from size and spacing to water, yellow leaves, pruning, cold and wind.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Weeping bottlebrush in Phoenix
Weeping bottlebrush is a fast evergreen for full sun and reflected heat. It does best in a spot sheltered from strong wind and hard frost, in soil that drains.
How far apart to plant weeping bottlebrush
Space plants about 12 to 20 feet apart. Each grows about 15 to 30 feet tall and 10 to 20 feet wide.
Weeping bottlebrush as a privacy screen
It grows fast and stays green all year, so it makes a tall, soft screen. Plant about 12 feet apart for a fuller row.
Why is my bottlebrush turning yellow?
Yellow leaves mean an iron shortage, usually from wet or alkaline soil. Water less often and add an iron product.
Weeping bottlebrush vs dwarf bottlebrush
Both are the same species. Weeping bottlebrush becomes a 15 to 30 foot tree-like shrub, while dwarf forms stay about 3 feet tall.
Pruning weeping bottlebrush
Shape it while young by removing crossing branches after the spring bloom. Lift lower branches over time for a tree form.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.