Callistemon viminalis ‘Hot Pink’

Most bottlebrushes come in red, so ‘Hot Pink’ is a bit special. It throws out bottlebrush-shaped flower spikes packed with bright magenta-pink stamens through summer, with the chance of a second flush in autumn if you tidy it up after the first round.

The narrow, lance-shaped leaves are dark green with red-flushed new growth, and lightly fragrant when crushed. Expect a neat, bushy shrub to around 1.5m tall and wide.

Plant in full sun in well-drained, non-alkaline soil. It’s hardy down to around minus 5, so give it a sheltered spot against a warm wall or grow it in a large pot you can move if needed. Bees and butterflies love the flowers.

A proper talking point for a sunny courtyard or Mediterranean-style border.