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Conservatory GreenhouseShrubs

Callistemon viminalis 'Little John'

bottlebrush 'Little John'

'Little John' is a dwarf, compact variety to about 1m, with narrow, leathery, aromatic, grey-green leaves and bright red, bottlebrush flowers from late spring to mid-summer

Synonyms
Callistemon 'Little John'

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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Red Green Grey Silver
Summer Red Green Grey Silver
Autumn Green Grey Silver
Winter Green Grey Silver
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H3
Botanical details
Family
Myrtaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus

Callistemon are evergreen shrubs with aromatic, linear to lance-shaped leaves and bottlebrush-like spikes of flowers in which the long colourful stamens are prominent

Name status

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in loam-based potting compost in full light with good ventilation. Outdoors grow in a sheltered position in full sun with a moist but well-drained, acid to neutral soil

Propagation

Propagate from semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Patio and container plants
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Wall side borders
Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insect, mealy bug and glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus

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