Callistemon viminalis 'Little John'
little john dwarf bottlebrush
Eastern Australia (New South Wales, Queensland)
Overview
'Little John' is a dwarf cultivar of Callistemon viminalis (also classified as Melaleuca viminalis) reaching 3 feet (90 cm) tall and 4-5 feet (1.2-1.5 m) wide, smaller than the species type which grows 15-25 feet (4.5-7.5 m). The form is dense and mounded, wider than tall. Narrow lance-shaped evergreen leaves are 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long and 0.1-0.25 inches (3-6 mm) wide, blue-green to gray-green when mature; new growth emerges bronze-pink. Cylindrical bottlebrush flower spikes, 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long and 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) wide, are deep red with prominent stamens, produced primarily in spring with sporadic flushes through fall. Woody capsular seed pods, 0.2-0.3 inches (5-8 mm) wide, persist along stems for several years. Hardy to about 20°F (-7°C); foliage damages below 25°F (-4°C) and the plant may die to roots in zone 8b, regrowing 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) within one growing season. Salt-tolerant in coastal plantings up to 2,000 ppm. Susceptible to root rot in saturated soils; drainage failure causes decline within 2-3 weeks of waterlogging.
Native Range
A dwarf cultivar selected from Callistemon viminalis, which is native to eastern Australia from northern New South Wales through Queensland. The species occurs along streambanks, riverbeds, and in seasonally moist woodlands from sea level to 3,000 feet (900 m) elevation.Suggested Uses
Used as a low hedge or foundation plant spaced 3-4 feet (90-120 cm) apart in zones 9-11, particularly in coastal and arid southwestern landscapes. Planted on slopes for erosion control where the spreading 4-5 foot (1.2-1.5 m) habit covers ground at 18-24 inch (45-60 cm) plant centers. Grown in 10-15 gallon (38-57 L) containers; flowering decreases in pots smaller than 10 gallons (38 L).How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 3'
Width/Spread4' - 5'
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Colors
Bloom Information
March through May in zones 9-11, with peak bloom in April. Sporadic secondary flushes occur from August through October in zones 10-11 with summer rainfall or supplemental irrigation. Individual flower spikes last 2-3 weeks. Bloom delayed by 4-6 weeks in zones 8b-9a where winter dieback shortens the active growing season.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
blue-green to gray-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Water weekly during the first growing season; established plants tolerate 3-4 weeks without rain in zones 9-11. Apply low-phosphorus fertilizer once in spring; high-phosphorus formulations cause leaf burn and dieback in this Callistemon spp.. Webbing caterpillars (sawfly larvae) defoliate new growth in spring; manual removal of webs reduces populations within 2-3 weeks. Root rot develops in clay soils with poor drainage; mound plantings 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) above grade reduce loss in heavy soils. Container plants in pots smaller than 10 gallons (38 L) flower less and become rootbound within 3 years.Pruning
Shear or hand-prune lightly after the spring bloom flush, removing 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) of new growth to maintain the dense mounded form. Remove woody seed capsules along stems if cleaner appearance is wanted; capsules left in place persist for 3-5 years without affecting plant health. Annual light pruning maintains size; hard cutbacks below green foliage often kill Callistemon spp. cultivars.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 10 gallons