Confused callistemon??

17 years ago

My treasured C. Citrinus was considered dead in 2007 as it lost every single leaf. It was cut down to a 3inch stump as the branches were also dead and put aside to be taken to the tip. It was then forgotten, but was exceptionally well watered with the usual summer deluge we had last year. To my delight it sprouted forth and grew well. It put on lots of growth and again has done during this past year......now it has decided to flower once more.....in November in the UK!!! What's going on, has it forgotten that it is not in Oz? It's outside and we are currently having avg temps of around 10C I would guess with little sun, hardly warm enough to promote flowering I would have thought, but something must have.

Gill.

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Comments (5)

popi_gw
17 years ago
Well that's remarkable.

Why do you think it "died" in the first place ? Was it lack of water?

Sometimes plants can flower when they are under stress, which could explain it's unusual flowering.

They can take a lot of severe pruning, those Callistemons, very hardy plants.

Enjoy your flowers.
greenclaws UK, Zone 8a
Original Author
17 years ago
Hi there Popi, yes, I think it was dessicated back in the winter of 2006. I had read articles about them growing in Australia and found they grow near water so can tolerate wet ground, but can also go without water for spells...obviously mine went far too long!! Probably severe dryness combined with the cold and it defoliated. I scratched the bark lower and lower down the stems till I was almost at soil level and all appeared brown, obviously I hadn't scraped far enough/deep enough so I assumed (wrongly) it was dead. I never thought to check the roots however. It sprouted from all over the stubs I left so there must have been life deep inside.
Realise plants do flower under stress as you rightly point out, don't think it's stressed at the moment as it's a while since it 'died'. I'm keeping a very close eye on it now as it's a very special plant to me...a reminder of past (and possibly another) holidays in Australia.
I didn't know they could take such a severe pruning...a good job really as it went from over 3ft to 3inches!!
Now it appears to be recovered and growing well again so in the spring I am hoping to plant it outdoors permanently if I can find the right spot.
Cheers, Gill.
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greenclaws UK, Zone 8a
Original Author
17 years ago
Just taken a pic of it as I realised I had another post on this same subject which I've linked this to asking for a photo....'IN THE SPRING' when it flowered!! Guess it just couldn't wait that long?
{{gwi:2116883}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Callistemon bush
popi_gw
17 years ago
Aww, it's really pretty.

If I were in England and saw your Callistemon, I think I would cry...I love my Aussie bushland and always want to be near it !
gonow
17 years ago
Callistemons like many many other Australian myrtaceae [and proteaceae] have the catastrophe resistant ability to reshoot from the base from dormant buds. Callistemons often flower in the autumn as well as spring so if you had a very mild approach to winter that may be the reason. Once in the ground they are very drought resistant.

Confused callistemon??

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Confused callistemon??

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popi_gw

greenclaws UK, Zone 8aOriginal Author

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greenclaws UK, Zone 8a
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