Bottlebrush Trees and Shrubs, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Bottlebrush does well across Southwest Florida, and it is best planted in full sun for its red, brush-shaped flowers and the hummingbirds and butterflies they draw. The blooms peak in spring, then repeat in flushes. It handles sandy soil, light salt air and dry spells once rooted in. We stock tree-form, weeping and dwarf types, so there is a fit for a big lot or a small bed.
- Light:
- Full sun
- Water:
- Low to moderate; regular water until established, then drought tolerant
- Salt:
- Moderate; fine with light salt spray, not for the open beachfront
Bottlebrush sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Variety or form | Sizes | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bottle Brush Tree | 15 Gallon, 25 Gallon | The tree-size option, in 15 and 25 gallon, for a flowering focal tree or screen that makes an impact from day one. |
| Weeping Bottlebrush | 7 Gallon, 15 Gallon | Arching, drooping branches and a softer outline, in 7 and 15 gallon, for lawn corners and beds that want a graceful shape. |
| Bottlebrush Dwarf | 3 Gallon | A compact shrub in 3 gallon for foundation beds, borders and small yards where a full-size tree would not fit. |
Bottlebrush in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 10 to 25 ft tall and 8 to 15 ft wide for the tree and weeping types; the dwarf stays a few feet tall
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Low to moderate; regular water until established, then drought tolerant
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate; fine with light salt spray, not for the open beachfront
- Cold tolerance
- Established plants handle SW Florida cold; tender new growth can burn in a hard frost, so cover young plants inland on frost nights
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 8 to 12 ft apart as a screen; 3 to 4 ft for the dwarf
- Florida native
- No, native to Australia
- Botanical name
- Callistemon spp. (weeping types: Callistemon viminalis)
Where Bottlebrush works in a SW Florida yard
Use a tree-form bottlebrush as a flowering focal point in a front yard or at the corner of a patio, and the weeping type where you want soft, drooping branches over a bed or lawn. Planted in a row, the larger forms make a loose screen along a fence line.
The dwarf suits foundation beds, entry borders and smaller yards. Good companions are firebush, plumbago and muhly grass, which share the same sun and sandy soil. Give weeping types some clearance, since the branch tips hang low.
- Flowering specimen tree
- Hummingbird and butterfly gardens
- Loose privacy screen
- Low borders (dwarf type)
How our crew plants it
Our crew digs the hole two to three times as wide as the root ball and no deeper, setting the root flare level with or just above the sand. We backfill with native soil, water it in, and mulch two to three inches deep, keeping mulch off the trunk.
Larger tree-form plants are staked for the first year. Lee and Collier rules allow extra watering on new plantings for the first weeks, then you move to your assigned two days.
Care after planting
- Prune right after the spring bloom to shape the tree, since cutting later removes next year's flower buds.
- Water new plants regularly through their first dry season, then let the tree rely on rain and your normal two-day schedule.
- Feed lightly with a slow-release fertilizer in March and October, and skip fertilizer from June 1 to September 30 in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
- Lift the lower branches of weeping types over time so the drooping tips clear walkways and mowers.
What to watch for
- Scale insects and the black sooty mold that follows them show up occasionally, and horticultural oil is the usual fix.
Bottlebrush questions we hear
How big does a bottlebrush tree get in Florida?+
Tree-form and weeping bottlebrush usually reach 10 to 25 ft tall and 8 to 15 ft wide, depending on the type and pruning. Growth is moderate, so it takes several years to fill out. The dwarf stays a few feet tall. Give full-size trees at least 10 to 12 ft from the house.
Is bottlebrush salt tolerant?+
Bottlebrush has moderate salt tolerance, so it does fine on most canal and bay lots with some wind protection. It can burn right on the beachfront in constant salt spray. For that exposure, sea grape or buttonwood are safer choices.
When does bottlebrush bloom in Southwest Florida?+
Bottlebrush blooms heaviest in spring, with flushes of red brushes that can repeat through summer and sometimes at other times of year. Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies work the flowers. Pruning right after the main bloom keeps next season's flowers coming.
How close to the house or pool can I plant a bottlebrush tree?+
Keep full-size bottlebrush at least 10 to 12 ft from the house, and a little farther from the pool, since spent flowers and leaf litter end up in the water. Weeping types need extra clearance because the branch tips hang low. The dwarf can go close to a foundation.
How often should I water a new bottlebrush?+
Water a new bottlebrush every day or two for the first couple of weeks, then taper off over the first few months. Lee and Collier allow extra watering for new plantings, after which you follow your assigned watering days. Established trees need little beyond rain.
How much does it cost to have a bottlebrush tree planted?+
Price depends on the form you pick, the size, how many trees you want and where they go. Send us a text with those details and a planted price comes back, usually within the hour during the day. Half down holds the plants and a delivery day.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Bottlebrush
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
Also worth a look
More like this
All flowering trees
The service
Tree and shrub installation
Planning a whole yard
See it in 3D first
We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.