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Calothamnus quadrifidus 'Yellow Flower Form' (Yellow Netbush) - A medium-sized evergreen shrub to 6-8+ feet tall with soft hairy pine-needle-like leaves and bright yellow flowers, which are actually bundles of four stamens known as staminal claws, from late winter to summer with sporadic bloom on to late fall. The flowers are borne on one side of stem that was the previous year's new growth.
Plant in full to partial sun and water infrequently. Tolerant of hot dry conditions, most any well-drained soil, coastal conditions (back from salt spray zone) and medium frost - the species is listed as hardy to 16 F. Good as a specimen plant or low screen with foliage that works well in flower arrangements and flowers that attract nectar feeding birds to the garden.
Calothamnus quadrifidus has a wide distribution through much of west Western Australia. 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 "divided into four parts" in reference to the staminal bundles. The members of the genus Calothamnus and those in the genus Callistemon were all reclassified to Melaleuca in 2014, which technically makes this plant a selection of Melaleuca quadrifida. For now, we have left this plant in the genus we are more familiar with so not to confuse our customers and our staff. This yellow flowering selection came to us from Jo O'Connell at Australian Native Plant Nursery who grew the plants from seed acquired from Nindethana Seed Company in Australia. Not only does it have yellow flowers instead of red but if differs from the red form of the species that we grow and call 302 Calothamnus quadrifidus 'Seaside' by having shorter and blunter leaves that are brighter green color. We have grown this attractive cultivar since 2022 and also grow the very nice red flowering cultivar of this species that we call Calothamnus quadrifidus 'Seaside' and also Calothamnus gracilis 'Spring Torch'.
This information about Calothamnus quadrifidus 'Yellow Form' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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