Bottle brush

Holder of the Royal Horticultural Society's prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM), this is one of the most reliable bottle brush plants to grow outdoors. The dense cylindrical spikes of crimson flowers are carried on the ends of the willowy branches in summer. Even without flowers its narrow evergreen leaves provide plenty of interest and release a lemon scent if gently bruised. When young, they are an attractive pinkish-red in colour. Plant beside a sheltered sunny wall for the best flower displays. To propagate, take cuttings in spring.