The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Callistemon viminalis, which has been given the variety denomination of ‘KPS38’. Its market class is that of an ornamental shrub. ‘KPS38’ is intended for use in landscaping as an accent shrub, hedge, or small tree.
Parentage: The Callistemon viminalis variety ‘KPS38’ was the result of open pollination and was discovered in Clarendon, Sydney, NSW. In 2006 seed was collected from Callistemon ‘Kings Park Special’ (unpatented) plants and many seedlings were grown. Three candidate plants were selected from said seedlings and further grown and evaluated for subsequent testing. In 2009 a final selection took place and one plant was then selected as the final candidate due to the combination of a short height and prominent red color of the emerging and immature foliage. The plant was given the name ‘KPS38’.
Asexual Reproduction: ‘KPS38’ was first asexually propagated by softwood cuttings in 2009 at a commercial plant breeding facility in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia and has since been asexually propagated through four successive generations. The distinctive characteristics of the inventive ‘KPS38’ variety are stable from generation to generation; plants of the variety produced by asexual reproduction maintain the distinguishing characteristics of the original plant.