Evergreen Shrubs (Flowering) – Little John Bottle Brush

• Little john bottle brush shrub

Botanical name: Melaleuca viminalis 

Beginner friendly?: yes

Average size at maturity: Slowly reaches just 3 ft. tall, 4ft. wide.

Bloom time: Spring to summer; longer in temperate regions

Hardy zone: Zones 9-11

Flower color: red

Foliage color: green/blue 

Growth rate: about 10 inches a year 

Pruning instructions: Can handle light pruning to maintain shape and size any time of the year. Heavy pruning should only be done in the late winter/early spring

Propagation methods: cut a stem just below a node and place in water until roots start to emerge

Landscape use:  Border, Container, Hedge

Light needs: 6 – 8 hours of sun a day 

Special features: dwarf shrub, showy spikes of crimson catkins, drought tolerant, deer resistant 

Watering instructions: needs weekly watering during periods without rain

Fertilizing instructions : Use a high in phosphorus fertilizer once a month during growing season

Best time to plant: spring

Best type of soil: adapts to all types of soil

Companion plants: agave, sedum, maiden grass

Toxicity level: non-toxic for humans and pets

Invasive species: no