Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 13:54:38 -0500
>From: RONALDJ ROVANSEK
>Subject: bottlebrush

>Karen, There are umpteen species of bottlebrush
in Australia. Probably
>only a few are grown in LA, including
callistemon citrinus - lemon
>bottlebrush or just bottlebrush, the usual one that
I see in New Orleans
>and one of the most commonly planted in
California. This grows into a
>tree size in zone 9, but just makes it to shrub size
in Baton Rouge - zone
>8b because of winter freezes. I have seen a few
dwarf bottlebrush for
>sale in Baton Rouge, some of these appear to be
of a different species
>than c. citrinus. I think any of them would be
good for hummers; I know
>that callistemon citrinus is very good, but not
always hardy in Baton
>Rouge and it blooms in spring after the main
winter hummer season. For
>those of you in Baton Rouge, the Cracker Barrel
restaurant along I 12
>has several c. citrinus in the parking lot.
>
>I have never seen hummers feed on lorapetalum,
nor do they seem to
>have much nectar or attract many insects.
>
>Ron Rovansek
>