Light. Plant in full sun.
Water. Water regularly while it settles in. Established plants are drought tolerant.
Soil and feeding. It grows best in moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Leaves can turn yellow in soil that is high in alkalinity or salt.
Size. Grows 15 ft or more at a moderate rate, as a large shrub or a small tree with one or several trunks. It can be trained as a tree to 25 ft.
Pruning. Very tolerant of pruning. Old plants regrow even when cut back hard into old wood, and patient pruning can train it to a single trunk.
Problems to watch. It has no serious pest or disease problems. Watch for spider mites and scale.
Good to know. Flowers come on and off through the year in frost-free areas and attract bees. The leaves smell of lemon when bruised. It is hardy to about 20–25°F.
Sources: Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder: Callistemon citrinus · NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Melaleuca citrina (Callistemon citrinus)
