Q: I have a Callistemon Mary Mackillop, about two years old. It has grown nicely but has never flowered. I have used a slow release fertilizer for natives. Can you tell me what else to do? Maureen – Park Ridge
A: How tall is your callistemon, Maureen?
When you say ‘two years old’…I presume that means two years since you planted it, would that be right? BUT…how large was the plant when you planted it…or what size pot was it in when you planted it?
Different species and different hybrids take different lengths of time to flower. Generally they should be flowering for you from the time they reach a height of about a metre or so.
You could try two things. (A) Give it some non-native general purpose fertilizer. See how that goes. (B) Stop watering it, and put it under a bit of stress. This often initiates flowering.
