Kampala Tree and Palm Directory

Tree Species
Common Name
Tree Description
Tree Uses

English: Bottlebrush scarlet, Bottlebrush, Lemon bottlebrush or Red bottlebrush, Crimson Bottlebrush.

+ Tree Species

Callistemon citrinus var. splendens

+ Tree Family

Myrtaceae

+ Ecology

In Australia it is found on low-lying ground including valley bottoms, so will grow on badly drained sites. It's now widely planted in the tropics and common in Central and Western Regions of Uganda. In Kampala, bottle brush is found within Africa hall premises, along Kololo hill lane, within Tuffnel village among others.

+ Description

A small evergreen tree, to 6 m high, with drooping foliage.

BARK: grey, smooth, furrowed with age.

LEAVES: narrow, tough, grey-green to 8 cm, young leaves pink-green, faintly lemon scented when crushed.

FLOWERS: vivid crimson bottlebrush- like cylindrical spikes, a mass of long red stamens, nectarattracting sunbirds and bees. Leafy shoots continue to growbeyond the flower "brush".

FRUIT: small woody capsules, persisting many months, contain the tiny seed.     

+ Uses

Agroforestry: can be used to make a large hedge and can act as a wind break, provides bee forage.

Tan dye can be obtained from the flowers. http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php id=Callistemon+citrinus

Cinnamon dye can be obtained from the leaves. http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php id=Callistemon+citrinus

Wood can be used to make tool handles.

It provides firewood.

An ornamental (avenue tree).

Medicine: the bark and leaves.

Edible: leaves are a tea substitute and have a delightfully refreshing flavor.

+ Propagation

Seeds.

+ Management

Fast growing on good sites. Plants are very tolerant of pruning; even old plants will regenerate if pruned back hard into the old wood.

+ Remarks

Commonly planted as single ornamental trees in gardens. Another Callistemon variety has erect flowers, not drooping; otherwise they are similar. The removal of the bark often results into tree damage. The leaves, when pressed, emit a refreshing scent of lemon. The leaves are a tea substitute and have a delightfully refreshing flavor.



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