Light Show Red Bottlebrush

A festival of brilliant red blossoms awaits you when you plant the Light Show® Bottlebrush from the Southern Living Plant Collection! Scarlet red bottlebrush blooms emerge from Spring to Summer. These gorgeous blossoms feature thin red styles extending from bloom spikes. Furthermore, these styles are tipped with bright white ends, giving a distinctly 'fiber-optic' appearance. New foliage emerges as a bright green before maturing to a pleasant deep green. This evergreen foliage is reliably dense and requires little pruning. Therefore, it's ideal for low-maintenance gardens. Unlike other red blooming Bottlebrush trees that can reach upwards of 10 feet tall, the Light Show Bottlebrush maxes out around 2-3' H x 2-3' W. In other words, it feels right at home in a small garden. As usual with Bottlebrushes, the Light Show Bottlebrush is salt tolerant. So it's perfect for coastal plantings. Once established, it proves itself to be remarkably drought-tolerant. Use it as an accent plant, in a mixed bed, mass planting, low-hedge, foundation planting, or slope planting. Alternatively, this bottlebrush's dwarf nature means that it even works well in a container. Pair the Light Show Bottlebrush with the Mojo Pittosporum or Twist of Pink Oleander, two other coastal salt-tolerant varieties. Their foliage contrasts in color, shape, and texture, creating fantastic interest. Light Show Bottlebrush Care Hardy from USDA Zones 8-10, down to 10-20° Fahrenheit. Plant the Light Show Bottlebrush in Full Sun for best results. Water regularly after planting, 2-3 times per week during the first growing season in average weather. Afterward, this red blooming shrub only needs supplemental watering in times of intense heat and drought. This bottlebrush is tolerant of most soil types. However, good drainage is important to avoid root rot. Fertilize in spring with a bloom booster fertilizer, low on nitrogen, such as a 15-30-15 NPK. Trimming is generally unnecessary for the Light Show Bottlebrush, but if desired, it should be done after the spring bloom cycle.