Little John Dwarf Bottlebrush

Callistemon viminalis 'Little John'

$139⁰⁰ $154⁶⁶

Shipping calculated at checkout.

Out of stock

Enter your ZIP code to check shipping availability.

Find your Growing Zone

Plant Size

Product variants

Plant Sentry™

Delivery and Shipping

Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Profile & Growing Essentials

Evergreen, Flowering, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts pollinators, Heat Tolerant, Drought resistant, Container Friendly, and Non-invasive

Specifications

Botanical Name

Callistemon viminalis 'Little John'
Height

2-4 ft
Width

3-5 ft
Growing Zones

8-11
Sunlight
- Full sun
Growth Rate

Slow
Flower Color
- Red
Leaf Color
- Blue
- Green
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Harvest Time

n/a
Fragrant

Yes
Bloom Period

Late Spring

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: For the best flower production and dense growth, plant in full sun for at least 6 to 8 hours daily. While it can handle partial shade, you will notice fewer of those iconic red brushes and a more leggy, open shape.
Soil: This shrub prefers well drained soil that is slightly acidic to neutral. If you are dealing with heavy clay, plant it in a raised mound to keep the roots from sitting in water, or mix in some organic compost to improve drainage.

Watering Requirements

During the first year, water your Little John Bottlebrush twice a week to ensure the root system establishes deep into the soil. Once mature, this plant is remarkably drought tolerant, but providing a deep soak every two weeks during dry spells prevents the foliage from thinning out. If watering is inconsistent while the plant is young, you may see fewer blooms and slower growth as the plant prioritizes survival over flowering.

Pruning Tips

Little John Bottlebrush blooms on new wood, so the best time to prune is immediately after the flowers fade in late spring or early summer. Lightly tip-prune the branches to encourage a bushier habit and more flower buds for the next cycle. Think of it like a haircut that removes the "split ends" of spent flowers, which prevents the plant from becoming woody and bare in the center.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer designed for acid loving plants in early spring just as new growth appears. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer or fall, as this encourages tender new growth that can be easily damaged by a sudden frost. Using a fertilizer with a bit of phosphorus will help boost the intensity of the red blooms without making the plant grow too fast for its own strength.

Little John Dwarf Bottlebrush shrubs (Callistemon viminalis 'Little John') is a gorgeous little accent shrub that has all the perks of its siblings but fits into smaller properties and even large planters with ease! Little John is also known as the Lemon Bottlebrush, the leaves emit a fresh fragrance when you brush against them on very hot days. Grab a vase and bring cuttings inside for display. You'll enjoy the wonderful scent inside your house.

The small, fine-textured evergreen foliage looks great year-round and is a fantastic backdrop to the incredibly red bottlebrushes of blooms! More like bristles than petals, the profusion of fluffy carmine-red blooms are favorites for local hummingbirds and pollinators! The main flowering is from spring until summer, then produce more blooms sporadically throughout the rest of the year!

Little John Dwarf Bottlebrush is a fantastic miniature version of the vibrant red Scarlet Bottlebrush shrub and only grows to a 3-foot tall wide mound that spreads 4-5 feet! Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 8 to 11, making them just as heat tolerant as their full-sized cousins and these broadleaf evergreen shrubs are also wonderfully easy care! Even if your thumb is less than green, this pretty shrub can deliver a star performance for you.

Planting and Application:

If you need a fancy accent specimen at the corner of your foundation planting, Scarlet Bottlebrush is an ideal choice, and the Dwarf Bottlebrush opens up the possibilities of where and how you can use this vibrant flowering shrub! Partner Scarlet Bottlebrush with other Mediterranean and xeric plants such as Agave, Strawberry Tree, Sedum, Aloe, and Maiden Grass. Rock Gardens and that hell strip along the road, a sidewalk, or the driveway are ideal locations for these lovely flowering evergreen bushes!

Let all the branches fill out to the ground to create a full, lush privacy screening hedge. flowers light up when the setting sun hits them, so try to site plantings to the west of your house or outdoor seating area to enjoy them to the fullest! Container gardeners are not left out since these smaller shrubs work great in large planters and porch containers! Any way you style it, Little John Dwarf Bottlebrush will delight you with its profuse blooms and year-round greenery!

Bright Red Bottlebrush Flowers
Flowers Keep Popping All Year Long
Fine-Textured Blue-Green Leaves
Aromatic Evergreen Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen Dwarf Shrub
Great Flowering Hedge Plant, Specimen, Accent & Foundation Planting

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Dwarf Bottlebrush bushes need full sun for the best blooms and tolerate a wide range of well-drained soils. It delivers the best performance in acidic conditions and once established is a xeric and drought-tolerant shrub! Use an acidifying fertilizer like Dr. Earth Acids Lovers Organic and Premium Fertilizer. Simply feed your plant in the spring to maintain good soil pH.

Resistance to heat makes Scarlet Bottlebrush a "plant it and forget it" kind of plant. Give it a layer of mulch to cover the root system for even more resiliency. Dwarf Bottlebrush takes to pruning very well. You can prune to shape it at any time of the year but it's best to prune right after that largest summer flush of flowers. Snip wayward branches or keep your tree-formed plant in tip-top shape with regular haircuts now and then.

Full Sun
Low Moisture Needs Once Established
Acidic Well-Drained Soil - Very Adaptable
Prune After the Main Flush of Flowers in Summer
Usually Deer Resistant

Little John Dwarf Bottlebrush is a fantastic aromatic broadleaf evergreen that's got pint-sized convenience with loads of bristly carmine-red bottlebrush blooms throughout the year! Order yours today at NatureHills.com!

Free shipping

On all orders over $199
Plant Sentry™

Compliant guaranteed
Easy returns

Hassle free returns policy
Live Chat

Talk to a real person

Growing Zones 8-11

Find Your Growing Zone!

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

Little John Dwarf Bottlebrush

Plant Sentry™

Delivery and Shipping

Specifications