Kunzea Baxteri
Kunzea baxteri (Klotzsch) Schauer
Kunzea baxteri, the scarlet kunzea, is a spectacular Western Australian native shrub producing large, profuse, bottlebrush-like clusters of vivid crimson flowers over a long winter-to-spring season. A striking bird-attracting garden plant with bold visual impact, it is regarded as one of the showiest of all kunzeas in cultivation.
Myrtaceae
Winter to spring (July to September most prolific); flowering can continue sporadically until as late as March depending on rainfall; scattered flowering at other times may occur
Symbolism & Meanings
Key Meanings
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Color Meanings
Similar flowers: melaleuca citrinas and dryandra formosas also share similar meanings.
Cultural Significance
Kunzea baxteri was first formally described in 1836 by the German botanist Johann Friedrich Klotzsch, who gave it the name Pentagonaster baxteri, published in Allgemeine Gartenzeitung. It was subsequently placed in the genus Kunzea, which was named in honour of Gustav Kunze, a 19th-century German professor of botany at Leipzig. The species name baxteri honours William Baxter, a 19th-century English plant collector who worked in Western Australia and contributed significantly to the early botanical exploration of the region. Kunzea is closely related to Callistemon, Melaleuca, and Leptospermum but can be distinguished by features including its deciduous (not persistent) sepals and petals, stamens always longer than the petals, and fruit that releases seeds annually rather than retaining them. It has been in cultivation for many years and is one of the most popular kunzeas grown. It is particularly noted for attracting not only honeyeaters but also mammals such as possums and small native mammals that are drawn to its large red flowers and abundant nectar. A note of ecological interest: in Victoria and parts of Western Australia, Kunzea baxteri has naturalised outside its original range, showing the vigour and adaptability that makes it so attractive in gardens.Shop Our Floral Collection
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Physical Characteristics
Natural Habitat
Growing Guide
Sunlight
Full sun; tolerates light partial shade but may develop scale problems in deep shade
Water
Drought-tolerant once established; suited to dry summers and wet winters; water well when first planting and through the first summer; mulch around the base to retain moisture; avoid prolonged waterlogging
Soil
Sandy, Sandy loam, Loamy, Lateritic, Well-drained, Humus-rich (in cultivation), Acidic to neutral (pH 5.0-7.0)
Expert Growing Tips
Plant in well-drained, sandy or loamy, low-phosphorus soil in full sun with good airflow; avoid humid, shaded positions which encourage scale
Water well at planting and through the first summer; once established, requires minimal supplementary watering
Mulch around the base to maintain a cool, moist root zone during summer
Prune after flowering to encourage a denser, tidier plant and more prolific flowering the following season; prune regularly rather than hard
Propagate from semi-hardwood tip cuttings taken from late spring to early autumn; cuttings produce flowers far more quickly than seed-grown plants
Plants grown from seed can take up to 10 years to flower; grafted plants on Kunzea ambigua rootstock flower much more quickly and are available from specialist native nurseries
Low-phosphorus native fertiliser may be applied carefully; very sensitive to excess phosphorus
Uses & Benefits
Ornamental Uses
- Feature specimen shrub for bold winter and spring colour
- Informal screening hedge or dense windbreak
- Bird-attracting garden plant; pollinated by honeyeaters and mammals attracted to its large red flowers
- Cut flower for striking floral arrangements
- Coastal garden planting; suited to coastal hills and cliff-top locations
- Rockery planting near granite outcrops, reflecting its natural habitat
Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions about the Kunzea Baxteri
How is kunzea baxteri different from a bottlebrush?
Kunzea baxteri resembles a bottlebrush (Melaleuca or Callistemon) but can be distinguished by several features: its sepals and petals are deciduous (they fall after the flower opens, unlike the persistent sepals of Callistemon), its stamens are free rather than united in bundles (as in Melaleuca), and its ripe fruit releases seeds annually rather than retaining them on the plant for years.
How long does kunzea baxteri take to flower from seed?
Seed-grown plants can take anywhere from 5 to 10 years before they flower, which is a significant wait. For this reason, most gardeners and nurseries prefer propagating from semi-hardwood cuttings of a mature, already-flowering plant, or by using grafted plants on Kunzea ambigua rootstock, which can flower within one to two years of planting.
What animals does kunzea baxteri attract?
Kunzea baxteri produces large, nectar-rich red flowers that attract a wide range of wildlife. In its native south-west Western Australia, honeyeaters are among the primary pollinators, but unusually for a Myrtaceae species, mammals including possums and small native animals are also attracted to and pollinate the flowers. In gardens it reliably attracts nectar-feeding birds including parrots when in full flower.
Is kunzea baxteri frost-tolerant?
It withstands at least moderate frosts once established, making it suitable for most temperate Australian climates and comparable warm temperate regions internationally. Young plants should be protected from hard frosts, especially in their first winter. It is best suited to Mediterranean climates with dry summers and wet winters but also grows in more humid areas with good drainage.
Who was William Baxter that kunzea baxteri is named after?
William Baxter was a 19th-century English plant collector who worked in Western Australia and contributed significantly to the early botanical knowledge of the region's flora. He collected many specimens of Western Australian plants and sent them back to Europe, where they were formally described and named. Kunzea baxteri was named in his honour by the botanist Johann Friedrich Klotzsch in 1836.
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