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Callistemon viminalis 'Dawson River Weeper'

About Your New Callistemon viminalis 'Dawson River Weeper'

Callistemon viminalis 'Dawson River Weeper' is a weeping form of the native Weeping Bottlebrush, with long pendulous branches that hang close to the ground and vivid red brushes through the warm months. The foliage is fine and soft green, and the whole plant moves in wind, which is a good part of its appeal.

It takes full sun to part shade and a wide range of soils, including heavy ground and sites that stay wet for periods near dams and creek lines. Growth is fast at 60 centimetres to a metre a year. It is frost hardy, surviving heavy and frequent frost, and moderately drought tolerant once rooted in.

Rural properties use it for shelter and creek line planting, councils for park and verge work, and home gardeners for a quick informal screen. Nectar brings honeyeaters and lorikeets in numbers. The weeping habit means it screens right down to ground level rather than lifting into a bare trunk over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Dawson River Weeper Bottlebrush

What is Dawson River Weeper?

It is a weeping selection of Callistemon viminalis, the native Weeping Bottlebrush. Long flexible branches hang from an arching framework, often reaching close to the ground, and vivid red brushes cover the plant through the warm months. The foliage is fine and soft green and it is held all year, so the plant never goes bare.

How big does Dawson River Weeper grow?

Around 4 to 6 metres tall and 3 to 4 metres wide when grown out as a small tree. It can be held at 2 to 3 metres as a screen with an annual prune after flowering. Because the branches sweep downward, it screens to ground level rather than lifting into a bare trunk.

How fast does it grow?

Fast, about 60 centimetres to a metre a year in good conditions, and quicker again in warm districts with summer rain. It is one of the better options when a screen is needed in a hurry. That pace holds for the first five or six years and then eases as the canopy fills out.

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

For a dense informal screen plant 1 to 1.5 metres apart, or 80 centimetres apart if you want a tighter, more formal line. As a feature tree, allow 3 to 4 metres so the full weeping canopy can develop. For avenue planting, 3 metres apart gives a uniform, soft textured run.

Is it frost tolerant?

Yes, it is frost hardy and survives heavy and frequent frost without damage once established, which makes it usable well inland and on the tablelands. Young plants benefit from mulch over the root zone through their first winter. Cold weather does not affect the following season's flowering, and it is among the hardier bottlebrush selections.

Will it grow in wet or heavy soil?

Yes. Callistemon viminalis grows naturally along watercourses and copes with heavy clay and ground that stays wet for periods, which is why it is used in swales, dam surrounds and creek line revegetation. It also grows perfectly well in ordinary garden soil. The one thing it dislikes is permanently waterlogged, airless ground.

How do I prune and care for it?

Prune after the main flowering, cutting back into leafy growth to keep the plant dense and stop the canopy going bare inside. Feed with a low phosphorus native fertiliser in spring. Water through the first two summers to establish deep roots. Beyond that it asks for very little, other than removing any dead wood.

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Uses in my Garden

  • Screening or Privacy
  • Shrubs
  • Rural Property Planting
  • Revegetation or Regeneration
  • Council or Civic Landscapes
  • Plant in Pots (or) Suitable for Pots

Callistemon viminalis 'Dawson River Weeper' works in an:

  • Australian Native Garden – celebrates local plants with natural character.
  • Coastal Garden – relaxed, seaside feel with hardy, textural plants.
  • Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
  • Wildlife Garden – planting to attract birds, bees, and pollinators.
  • Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

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