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Products > Calothamnus gracilis 'Spring Torch'
 
Calothamnus gracilis 'Spring Torch' - Slender Net Bush

San Marcos Growers has permanently closed as a business. This is an archived page preserved for informational use.  
Image of Calothamnus gracilis 'Spring Torch'
[2nd Image]
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Shrub
Family: Myrtaceae (Myrtles)
Origin: Australia (Australasia)
Evergreen: Yes
Red/Purple Foliage: Yes
Flower Color: Red
Bloomtime: Year-round
Synonyms: [Melaleuca gracilis]
Height: 1-2 feet
Width: 2-3 feet
Exposure: Sun or Shade
Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F
Calothamnus gracilis 'Spring Torch' (Slender Net Bush) An evergreen dwarf shrub to 2 feet tall by 3 feet wide with 4-inch-long rigid narrow gray-green leaves that are held erect with new growth flushed a fiery red-orange color in spring. Over a long period appear the dark red flowers held on one side of the stem along with the older growth.

Plant in full sun to part shade in most any well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally to infrequently – drought tolerant once established. It tolerates light frost and should prove hardy to at least 28° F. A very attractive small shrub for an accent in the garden – the flowers are unusual but not that showy, however the new growth puts on an outstanding display.

Calothamnus gracilis 'Spring Torch' was accessioned by the UCSC arboretum as Calothamnus gracilis 94.931 from Mt. Trio in the Stirling Range of Western Australia and it became a 2012 Australian Plant Introduction from U.C. Santa Cruz Arboretum. The name for the genus comes from the Greek word 'kalos' which means "beautiful" and 'thamnos' which means "a shrub" and the specific epithet means "slender' in reference to the narrow leaves of this species. In 2014 there was a reclassification of the genera Calothamnus and Callistemon which put them both into the genus Melaleuca, which technically makes this plant a selection of Melaleuca gracilis. For now, we have left this plant in the genus we are more familiar with so not to confuse our customers and staff. We have grown this attractive plant since 2012 and also grow Calothamnus quadrifidus 'Seaside' and as Calothamnus quadrifidus 'Yellow Form'. 

The information displayed on this page about Calothamnus gracilis 'Spring Torch' is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.

 
We closed for regular business at the end of 2025 in order for the property to be developed for affordable housing.
Our gates remain closed but we will open them by appointment to interested parties as we liquidate remaining supplies and equipment.
 
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