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A shrub growing to 3 metres high by 2 metres wide.
It is typically found in damp places such as sandy swamps, wet heath and sandstone creeklines. It is widespread on the NSW coast, ranges and extends in disjunct patches into the north western plains and western slopes, but is concentrated mainly in the wider Sydney district. It also extends through eastern Queensland to around Gladstone.
Callistemon spp. have simple and alternate to spiral leaves. In this species, leaves are narrow and linear to 7 cm long, and to only 0.4 cm wide, and are very rigid.
In Callistemon species, flowers are usually arranged in spikes (the “bottlebrush”) which are produced at the terminals but which the stem then grows past, into a leafy shoot. Flowers have five small circular sepals and five circular petals which persist on the flowers. Like many other Myrtaceae genera, the flowers are conspicuously staminate with each flower having many stamens surrounding one carpel. The stamens are typically free although may be fused at the basal parts (a generally useful identifying feature for the genus to distinguish it from Melaleuca). The pedicels of the flowers are very short. In this species, inflorescences are spikes to 10 cm long and to 6 cm diameter, appearing in summer. Staminal filaments to 30 mm long, vivid red in colour; anthers dark.
Capsules are to 7 mm diameter, arranged in the same spike-like structure along branches.
This plant has a solid history of being cultivated and is a very hardy and useful plant. It will withstand poorly drained situations better than other bottlebrushes.
Flowers are attractive to birds and insects.
The plant responds to annual fertilising after flowering and may be pruned severely if necessary. Prune after flower to encourage prolific growth and reduce woody stems and promote more flowers for the following season.
Plant in full sun to part-shade, on a sandy to loam soil. Give some additional water in hot and dry times.
Propagation is easy from both seed and cuttings.
In Callistemon species, flowers are usually arranged in spikes (the “bottlebrush”) which are produced at the terminals but which the stem then grows past, into a leafy shoot. Flowers have five small circular sepals and five circular petals which persist on the flowers. Like many other Myrtaceae genera, the flowers are conspicuously staminate with each flower having many stamens surrounding one carpel. The stamens are typically free although may be fused at the basal parts (a generally useful identifying feature for the genus to distinguish it from Melaleuca). The pedicels of the flowers are very short. Note that Callistemon linearis, C. pinifolius and C. rigidus are all synonyms of Melaleuca linearis.
Regenerates after fire from epicormic and basal shoots as well as from the seedbank.
Callistemon – From the Ancient Greek – Callos (κάλλος) – meaning “beautiful” (which is changed to κάλλη to describe a noun) and and stêma (στῆμα) meaning “stamen”, referring to the very showy staminate flowers of the bottle-brush inflorescences.
rigidus – Latin meaning ‘rigid’ – referring to the stiff linear leaves.
This species is not considered to be at risk of extinction in the wild.
NSW Flora Online (PlantNET) – Callistemon rigidus profile page http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Callistemon~rigidus
Wrigley, J.W. & Fagg, M.I. (2001). Australian Native Plants – Propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping. 4th edition. New Holland Publishers, Pty. Ltd. Australia.