This is the lesser known One sided bottlebrush, the sibling in the shadows if you will, of the very showy Calothamnus quadrifidus ‘Grey’. I love both of course, and I think this green leaf form of Calothamnus deserves to be utilised a lot more in the garden. Calothamnus quadrifidus ‘Yellow’ is a very hardy medium rounded shrub 2.5mts high and wide, native to WA and found naturally in the south west of the state. It is an adaptable Western Australian species which can handle a little humidity and won’t keel over in heavy rainfall.

Flowers are borne on the old wood and sometimes are hidden in the foliage, making it the perfect plant for small nectar feeding birds. Flowers are grouped in small clusters like a Callistemon but usually on one side of the stem, hence the common name. Flowering usually occurs in spring/summer October to January, but occasionally at other times of the year. These photos were taken of a Calothamnus quadrifidus that I planted in my Mum’s garden and is very happy flowering at the moment (August).

Calothmanus do prefer good drainage, but are hardy in most soils and flower best in full sun. It is virtually frost resistant and copes well close to the ocean with salt laden winds not bothering it at all.

I do recommend tip pruning to encourage dense growth and retain shape and if you are planting it as part of a privacy screen it is best to prune a couple of times a year.

The thin pine like leaves are slightly hairy and although they look spikey but are soft to the touch. The foliage makes a great textural contrast with natives with soft silver leaves, like the Eremophila ‘Kalbarri Carpet’ in the image below.

Below you can see what a highlight the lime green leaves are in a native coastal garden, on the right is the older sibling Calothamnus qudrifidus ‘Grey’, who’s the standout now huh?