Flanagan's Bottlebrush Plant Care

Flanagan's Bottlebrush (Greyia flanaganii) belongs to the Francoaceae family within the Greyia genus. Flanagan's Bottlebrush is native to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Flanagan's Bottlebrush displays a small tree or shrub growth habit, reaching up to 10 ft tall with a spread of approximately 8 ft. Flanagan's Bottlebrush produces showy clusters of red or pink tubular flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Flanagan's Bottlebrush every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Flanagan's Bottlebrush thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Greyia flanaganii tolerates temperatures of 50–85°F. Flanagan's Bottlebrush prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining sandy soil mix with added organic matter for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Flanagan's Bottlebrush to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Flanagan's Bottlebrush every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil mix with added organic matter for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Flanagan's Bottlebrush is suited to USDA Zone 9a – 11b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Flanagan's Bottlebrush can spread to about 8 ft (2.4 m) and reach about 10 ft (3 m) tall. Space plants about 8 ft (2.4 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Flanagan's Bottlebrush while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Flanagan's Bottlebrush is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 9). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Flanagan's Bottlebrush can be propagated through seeds, softwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to radlkofer's bottlebrush plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Flanagan's Bottlebrush is susceptible to aphids, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Flanagan's Bottlebrush grows outdoors in USDA Zone 9a – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 9a. Flanagan's Bottlebrush is native to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. In cooler regions, grow Flanagan's Bottlebrush as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.