Little John bottlebrush sherwood make you happy
Is that the corniest title in the blogosphere or what? Thankfully, I can’t think of any more Robin Hood puns, as Callistemon viminalis or C. citrinus (websites differ as to the name) ‘Little John’ hails from Australia anyway, not England or Sherwood Forest. If you live in Zones 9–11, be sure to tuck a few into your garden. While they aren’t maid made for Zone 8, they grow beautifully here in Austin with winter protection.
In my garden, a south-facing wall and a heat-radiating stone courtyard create a microclimate for two ‘Little John’ bottlebrushes, which bloom sporadically throughout the year, including winter, but prolifically in spring. Just look at that blue-green foliage, which terminates at the end of each branch in a little rosette of leaves (top photo). Paired with dark red, bottlebrush-shaped flowers that look dusted with gold, the plant is a knockout.
Unlike most bottlebrushes, ‘Little John’ tops out at 3 feet tall and wide, making it perfect for the small garden. Mine grows in mostly sun; full sun is good too. It accepts xeric (limited water) conditions but appreciates extra water when it gets it.
‘Little John’ dwarf bottlebrush will make you a merry gardener indeed.
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Those little brushes are wonderful even with the pun.
Hi Pam, what exquisite color and form. Your photos do it justice, that red is perfection personified. I saw bottlebrush at a nursery here yesterday, it was so tempting, I will have to go back and see if it is Little John.
Many people ask for this where I work. We rarely get them in and when we do they disappear in the blink of an eye. They are great unique plants and I would get one if I had a yard to plant it in.
Here in Austin, Barton Springs Nursery often carries them. —Pam
These little Callistemons are showing up in landscaping around here lately too. I’d never seen them before until they turned up in the entry way landscaping at my last job (not sure if yours is the same one they had or not). Anyway, I’m surprised to hear that’s a viminalis because the tree has a weeping form and little shrubs don’t weep. Do the hummers visit it?
You may be right, Chuck. I just did a little web surfing to see whether ‘Little John’ is a hybrid of viminalis or citrinus, and some sites call it one thing while others sites call it the other. So I’m not sure. I’ll amend my post to reflect the confusion, and maybe some expert will come along to give the definitive name. I haven’t seen hummers at work on it yet, but I’ll keep an eye on it. —Pam
Interesting. I’ve never seen anything like it before.
I seem to have the non-blooming variety. 🙂 We saw one in our neighborhood the other day that obviously wasn’t ‘Little John’. It was quite large and most impressive.
I don’t see many of the bottlebrush trees around town. My sister has one in Houston, and there is a gorgeous specimen at the Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham. I think in Austin they’d need winter protection. —Pam
What a neat plant. I’ll have to try to find one for my garden.
I wish it would grow here. It reminds me of my new Euphorbia except it has those cute red blooms.~~Dee
Yes, it does bear a resemblance to Euphorbia, now that you mention it. —Pam
It does bring a smile to my face, Pam. So pretty!
What a gorgeous plant. I must try and work out what zone I am here in the UK – we dont have them here so it is a bit confusing when I read US sites.
Helen, Wikipedia suggests that most of England corresponds to U.S. Hardiness Zone 7 or 8, depending on your average low temperature. These zones are only of limited use, of course. I believe Yolanda Elizabet of Bliss is in Zone 8 in the Netherlands, as I am here in Austin, Texas, but our climates are vastly different. Austin is so much hotter and drier than the Netherlands and England that our plant palette is pretty different. —Pam
Knockout is the perfect word, such a fantastic plant. Pam, the photos are beautiful.
What a pretty little plant!
“sherwood make you happy” Ok you win! 🙂
We were able to grow bottle brush trees/shrubs when we lived in Hawaii but they were the tall variety. I like your dwarf variety better as we were constantly pruning ours. I also tried to grow some Protea but was unsuccessful. I wondered if they would grow in Austin, if you had seen some or tried growing them?
I’m not familiar with Protea, Ki. I just looked them up online, and I don’t recall seeing any around Austin. Maybe some of the other Austin bloggers will have seen or tried them. —Pam
That is really pretty. We had bottle brush at home when I was a kid. I had forgotten about those and how unique they really are. The ones at home were very large though. I would like a small one in my garden. I will have to check the local nursery for that variety.
And here I am coveting one of the larger ones. But I don’t know where I’d put it, even if I thought it would be hardy here (which I’m skeptical about). I hope you find the dwarf variety for your garden. —Pam
That is one spectacular looking specimen of a plant! And leave it to you to have one!
Brenda
Just looking at the photos make me “Merry”. Only the heat you’re going to get is keeping you from having a new neighbor. I’d love to have ‘Little John’ in my garden.
That heat is nearly a deal-breaker for me too, Wiseacre. But the other three seasons make it worth the sweat. —Pam
Love that blue-green foliage and those luscious blooms. Hope they bring you lots of hummingbirds!
Thanks. Me too. —Pam
I’m in the middle of packing, Pam, but had to say: I hope you’ll Sheriff the bottle brush makes seeds ;-]
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
I Sherwood. Annie, I can always count on you to make merry with words too. Thanks! —Pam
YEAH!
There are a few of these on the UT campus…I was asking around to find out what it was before I saw it blooming and have become more intrigued since I noticed the red fuzziness. I found you and now Little John! THANK YOU!
I’m noticing ‘Little John’ around town more and more these days. I’m glad I was able to help you identify it. Thanks for letting me know. —Pam