Some number of years ago, my wife and I were walking through a plant nursery and saw a large tree with beautiful blooms. Each red bloom was wiry, yet soft to the touch. We knew then that we had to have one. Later that weekend, we were the proud parents of a small, 4′ bottlebrush tree. We really enjoy this tree, since it’s an evergreen and blooms several times a year, turning almost red from all the blooms.
During a harsh winter (by Houston standards) a few years back, it almost died and I had to cut it back almost to the ground. I’m happy to say that the patient survived and now stands about seven feet tall, though only about half as tall before that dreadful winter. I understand that in harsh climates, they do better as potted plants.
