Callistemon viminalis ‘Little John’ (Bottlebrush)
Bottlebrush 'Little John', Dwarf Callistemon, Weeping Bottlebrush, Callistemon citrinus 'Little John', Melaleuca viminalis 'Little John'
A dwarf Bottlebrush variety, Callistemon ‘Little John’ is a beautiful, dense, evergreen shrub grown for its dazzling blood-red flowers and evergreen foliage of narrow, blue-green leaves. Blooming throughout most of the year, the elongated flower spikes of this Australian native are surrounded by long, bristlelike stamens, giving them the look of bottlebrushes, hence the common name. The blooms are a copious source of nectar for birds and hummingbirds. They also make excellent cut flowers. A slow grower, ‘Little John’ is perfect for small gardens.
- Grows upright with a dense, rounded habit to 3 ft. tall (90 cm) and 5 ft. wide (150 cm).
- Easily grown in acidic, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Drought tolerant but performs best with regular irrigation.
- Deer resistant
- Great as foundation plant or low hedge for Mediterranean gardens, coastal gardens or containers.
- Virtually disease free and pest free. Watch for glasshouse red spider mite, mealybugs and scale insects when grown under glass
- Trim to shape anytime. Hard pruning isn’t necessary since the plant grows fairly slowly.
- Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings.
- Native to Australia
Requirements
| Hardiness |
8 - 12 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
10 - 11 |
| Climate Zones | 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Myrtaceae |
| Genus | Callistemon, Melaleuca |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
| Height | 3' (90cm) |
| Spread | 5' (150cm) |
| Spacing | 60" (150cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers, Small Gardens, Wall-Side Borders |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
Alternative Plants to Consider
Recommended Companion Plants
Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens
(c) Gerhard Bock, SucculentsandMore.com
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
| Hardiness |
8 - 12 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
10 - 11 |
| Climate Zones | 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Myrtaceae |
| Genus | Callistemon, Melaleuca |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
| Height | 3' (90cm) |
| Spread | 5' (150cm) |
| Spacing | 60" (150cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers, Small Gardens, Wall-Side Borders |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
