This colorful shrub is the Scarlet Bottlebrush, Melaleuca citrina.

Its common name comes from the bright red flower spikes, which resemble the brushes once used to clean bottles. What look like petals are actually masses of long red stamens surrounding the stem.

The flowers are rich in nectar and attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. New leaves often continue growing from the tip of the branch beyond the flower spike, so the flowers appear to form a ring around the stem.

The narrow leaves contain aromatic oils. When crushed, they may release a light lemon scent, which is reflected in the species name citrina.

After flowering, the plant produces small woody capsules that remain clustered around the branches. These capsules may stay closed for years before releasing their tiny seeds.

Scarlet Bottlebrush is native to eastern Australia but is widely planted in warm climates because it tolerates heat, drought, and regular pruning.

It was formerly known as Callistemon citrinus. Botanists now commonly place it in the genus Melaleuca, giving us the accepted name Melaleuca citrina.