Ann in Houston, Did the bottlebrush survive? I've just transplanted 8 dwarf bottlebrush with the same horrible result. Is there hope?

I'm not Ann, but wanted to pass along that there is hope. I've found it's good to cut back the top of a plant by half or two thirds to make for the tiny feeder roots that are destroyed when a plant is dug up. Also if the sun is bright I prop boxes on sticks to shade new transplants until they recover enough to put out new leaves.

Keep us posted on how yours do. Wishing you the best.

I'm in San Antonio and someone was giving away Bottle brush tress that they had dug up. Sat out at the curb for a few hours before we got to them.. Brought them home and planted them. Looked great for about a week ( already had beautiful red flowers) then they started turning all brown and crunchy but still had some green. We added some more root stimulater and then got a good rain and now great sunshine. The branches aren't crunchy anymore. Hoping it's just shock and they will come back.

I just planted 3 dwarf Bottle brushes in the same bed (in Sugar Land) about 2 weeks ago and one is doing well, one has some new growth and a lot of dried, crinkly leaves and one looks hopeless. I will try the root stimulator (we should get rain over the weekend) and cross my fingers.

Update: I tried the root stimulator treatment and then we got plenty of rain for several days. They all perked up, the hopeless one has tiny leaf buds all along the bare stems. I had considered trimming it back, but I think they will all be OK. There are no blooms now, but a lot of new growth.

Exterior Sugar Land house (front) · More Info