Hi, I wonder if anyone is growing bottlebrush in a container, and if so
which one and what sort of conditions it needs. I have a north facing
but quite bright balcony, minimum will probably be around -5C.

The balcony is small but I thought I'd do a couple of evergreens like
nandina, perhaps callistemon, hebe, some fern and ivy, and a couple of
small maples. As well as annuals to brighten up summer. Any other
suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks,

-Emery

In article ,
Emery Davis wrote:
Hi, I wonder if anyone is growing bottlebrush in a container, and if so
which one and what sort of conditions it needs. I have a north facing
but quite bright balcony, minimum will probably be around -5C.

Yes, I do, and it gets colder than that here. I haven't seen any
flowers, but I gre it from seed. You need one of the hardy species
and a well-drained compost.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

writes
In article ,
Emery Davis wrote:
Hi, I wonder if anyone is growing bottlebrush in a container, and if so
which one and what sort of conditions it needs. I have a north facing
but quite bright balcony, minimum will probably be around -5C.

Yes, I do, and it gets colder than that here. I haven't seen any
flowers, but I gre it from seed. You need one of the hardy species
and a well-drained compost.

Mine came from a cutting, outdoors in summer, frost free greenhouse in
winter. No flowers.
--
Kay

"Emery Davis" wrote in message
...
Hi, I wonder if anyone is growing bottlebrush in a container, and if so
which one and what sort of conditions it needs. I have a north facing
but quite bright balcony, minimum will probably be around -5C.

The balcony is small but I thought I'd do a couple of evergreens like
nandina, perhaps callistemon, hebe, some fern and ivy, and a couple of
small maples. As well as annuals to brighten up summer. Any other
suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks,

-Emery

Best if you can give it a bit more sun. Go for something like G.
rosmarinifolia. I have one (albeit it open ground) and it grows like mad in
solid clay, flowering more-or-less all year round.

Much more food for thought on page 12 he
http://asgap.org.au/ASGAP/grev77.pdf

--

Jeff

On 02/06/2010 04:44 PM, K wrote:
writes
In article ,
Emery Davis wrote:
Hi, I wonder if anyone is growing bottlebrush in a container, and if so
which one and what sort of conditions it needs. I have a north facing
but quite bright balcony, minimum will probably be around -5C.

Yes, I do, and it gets colder than that here. I haven't seen any
flowers, but I gre it from seed. You need one of the hardy species
and a well-drained compost.

Mine came from a cutting, outdoors in summer, frost free greenhouse in
winter. No flowers.

Thanks, do you guys have any species recommendations? No flowers isn't
that encouraging, do you suppose it's due to light, climate or container
culture?

-E

In article ,
Emery Davis wrote:

Thanks, do you guys have any species recommendations? No flowers isn't
that encouraging, do you suppose it's due to light, climate or container
culture?

Mine is in full sun, but seedlings are always unpredictable.

However, you might like to consider some other plants. Good old
rosemary and thyme should survive there, and you will probably get
some flowers (though they much prefer sun). Both are evergreen,
neat, with attractive flowers, and useful for cooking. Sage is all
of those - except neat! You could even grow bay, which is a very
good foliage plant.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Jeff Layman" wrote in message
...

"Emery Davis" wrote in message
...
Hi, I wonder if anyone is growing bottlebrush in a container, and if so
which one and what sort of conditions it needs. I have a north facing
but quite bright balcony, minimum will probably be around -5C.

The balcony is small but I thought I'd do a couple of evergreens like
nandina, perhaps callistemon, hebe, some fern and ivy, and a couple of
small maples. As well as annuals to brighten up summer. Any other
suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks,

-Emery

Best if you can give it a bit more sun. Go for something like G.
rosmarinifolia. I have one (albeit it open ground) and it grows like mad
in solid clay, flowering more-or-less all year round.

Much more food for thought on page 12 he
http://asgap.org.au/ASGAP/grev77.pdf

--

Jeff

Don't know why I thought of Grevillea rather than Callistemon! But the
Grevillea I mentioned should do ok. It doesn't get as "leggy" as some
Callistemons.



--

Jeff

Emery Davis writes
On 02/06/2010 04:44 PM, K wrote:
writes
In article ,
Emery Davis wrote:
Hi, I wonder if anyone is growing bottlebrush in a container, and if so
which one and what sort of conditions it needs. I have a north facing
but quite bright balcony, minimum will probably be around -5C.

Yes, I do, and it gets colder than that here. I haven't seen any
flowers, but I gre it from seed. You need one of the hardy species
and a well-drained compost.

Mine came from a cutting, outdoors in summer, frost free greenhouse in
winter. No flowers.

Thanks, do you guys have any species recommendations? No flowers isn't
that encouraging, do you suppose it's due to light, climate or container
culture?


In my case it's lack of skill and knowledge, with a bit of climate
chucked in - I'm very much aware of how much colder and wetter I am
400ft aabove sea level in Leeds compared with many urglers.

--
Kay

On 02/06/2010 05:58 PM, wrote:
In article ,
Emery Davis wrote:

Thanks, do you guys have any species recommendations? No flowers isn't
that encouraging, do you suppose it's due to light, climate or container
culture?

Mine is in full sun, but seedlings are always unpredictable.


True enough.

However, you might like to consider some other plants. Good old
rosemary and thyme should survive there, and you will probably get
some flowers (though they much prefer sun). Both are evergreen,
neat, with attractive flowers, and useful for cooking. Sage is all
of those - except neat! You could even grow bay, which is a very
good foliage plant.



Certainly will grow rosemary, thyme and sage, but on a window box around
the other side. For bay we've an enormous tree in the country, that's
enough thanks!

I'm not honestly married to the bottlebrush, just thought it would be
easier to grow on the balcony than in Normandy (where I have always
wanted to put one.)

-E