Callistemon Viminalis 'Little John'
Regular price$14.49
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Little John Bottlebrush
Botanical Name: Callistemon viminalis ‘Little John’ (syn. Melaleuca viminalis ‘Little John’)
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Australia (dwarf cultivar selection)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Overview
Australia’s classic dwarf bottlebrush: naturally compact, mounding and dense, with blue-green/grey-green foliage and abundant crimson-red brushes. Flowers mainly late spring–summer, with spot blooms in autumn. Ideal for neat low hedges, borders, mass planting and pots; tough and bird-attracting.
Key Features
- Mature Size: 0.6–1 m H × 1–1.5 m W (keeps tight with light clipping)
- Growth Rate: 15-30 cm per year under good conditions
- Foliage: Narrow, blue-green to grey-green; bronze/copper tints on new growth
- Flowers: Crimson-red bottlebrush spikes (spring–summer; occasional autumn)
- Seasonal Interest: Strong spring–summer colour; evergreen form year-round
- Wildlife Value: Attracts nectar-feeding birds (honeyeaters) and native bees
- Tolerance: Drought-tolerant (once established), heat-tolerant, wind-tolerant, second-line coastal-tolerant; light frost (protect from hard frost)
- Planting Density: Low hedge/edging: 3–5 per metre (≈ 20–35 cm centres); Mass planting: 3–4 per m²; Specimen/containers: one per pot; tip-prune to shape
- Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats & dogs
Where It Works Best
- Sunlight: Full sun to light part shade (best bloom in sun)
- Soil: Well-drained sandy/loam to clay loam; mound on heavy sites
- Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer (weekly in heatwaves); minimal in winter
- Maintenance: Light tip-prune after flowering to keep tight and trigger new growth; mulch; feed in early spring with low-P native fertiliser
- Lifespan: 15-25+ years
- Climate Zones: Temperate & Mediterranean SA, including coastal areas
- Soil pH: Acidic to neutral; tolerates slightly alkaline
Landscape & Design Ideas
- Low formal hedge/edging along paths or driveways
- Mass plant for a durable, bird-friendly ground-level band of colour
- Feature in pots for small gardens, courtyards and entrances
Why You Will Love It
A compact, easy-care bottlebrush with vivid crimson blooms and neat, blue-green foliage—perfect for tidy borders, small spaces and containers.