The Bottlebrush
by Robert Bales
Title
The Bottlebrush
Artist
Robert Bales
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
While geocaching in the Phoenix, Arizona area, I found this bottlebrush and I could not pass it up without taking a few images!!
The Bottlebrush is sometimes referred to in Phoenix as Red Bottlebrush or Little John. The bottlebrush plant is one of several desert plants that I recommend for people who want desert plants that are perennial (you need to plant them only once), hardy, low care, relatively drought resistant, easy to find, pretty cheap to buy, and provide lovely color many times during the year.
Bottlebrush plants get their name from the spikes of flowers that bloom at the ends of the stems, bearing a strong resemblance to a bottle brush. Grow them as shrubs or small trees that grow up to 15 feet. Most bottlebrush varieties bloom over a long summer season in shades of red or crimson. One exception is C. sieberi, which has light yellow flower spikes.
Bottlebrush plants need a very mild climate. If you live in an area cooler than U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8b through 11, grow bottlebrush in pots that you can move to a protected area for winter. Use a rich, peaty potting soil with a few handfuls of sand added to improve the drainage. If pruned hard every year, the plants will grow in pots as small as 6 to 8 inches in diameter. If you plan to let the shrub grow, you will need a large tub.
Uploaded
February 23rd, 2017
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Viewed 1,298 Times - Last Visitor from Pennington, NJ on 03/25/2024 at 8:33 PM
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Comments (29)
Toni Hopper
Excellent image! Congratulations on your image earning a feature in the HDR Photography group for Jan. 6, 2019. You are invited to share it in the January features discussion
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks toni for the wonderful feature, congrats, invitivation and the promotion!!
Glenn DiPaola
This is one of my favorites sights to see out there. You captured this beauty in a wonderful light, with a perfect background. Thanks for the backstory too. Now I know. L/F
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks so much for the wonderful comments and I am so glad you enjoyed the information!!
Emmy Vickers
Very cool capture Robert. Love the dark bronze background. Nicely composed! l/v
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks Emmy for the comments and I sure was surprise with the background color!!