Thursday, November 17, 2011

I’ve got a crush on John!

I came back from the desert with a serious crush on the Dwarf Callistemon ‘Little John’… Naturally since it’s only hardy to 20-25 degrees! From the San Marcos Growers website: “An evergreen small shrub that forms a 3 feet high and 3 feet wide rounded mound with narrow 3 inch long bluish gray-green leaves and flowers of blood red bristle stamens that appear throughout the year, but peak bloom time is early summer through fall” The pictures above were from Elgin Nursery in Phoenix, below are from a Home Depot in Tucson. Yes! I stopped at a Home Depot; I was curious what a big box store in the desert would have to offer… report forthcoming. There were several Little John’s newly planted in my brothers next door neighbors front yard, but I was so busy taking pictures of his garden I forgot to take any of theirs. What is so striking to me about this Callistemon is how bushy and lush it is. I think it combines some of the best foliage qualities of a Euphorbia with the fun blooms of a Callistemon. If I lived somewhere that would allow it I would love to put a few of these in the ground around several large Agaves. Wouldn’t that look great?

10 comments:

  1. Nice! I figured John was a plant... That bottlebrush and the shrubby Grevillea are plants I cannot grow here, but I see used nicely in Las Vegas. Nice forms they have!

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  2. They grow well here and in fact or doing their fall flowering as I write this. I will now need to try this one to see what kind of cold tolerance it exhibits.........Thanks for pointing this one out....

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  3. He's a sweet thing and that red is outstanding! Ah, but there's that hardiness thing... I guess you and John are not destined to be a match, at least here in Portland.

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  4. I can believe your crush. I would have one too. I always pop into HD when I am in Phoenix and have made a few purchases there too. Such a pretty flower but I'm not sure it is good for here. WIsh, wish!

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  5. They are not quite the same, but look for 'Woodlander's Hardy' or 'Clemson Hardy'. They are a few degrees more cold tolerant and might work for you, especially if planted in late spring.

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  6. DD, you saw right through my "clever" title huh?

    compost, good luck! (I'll be horribly jealous if you are able to score with John when I was not).

    MulchMaid, c'est la vie...

    Lancashire rose, wish wish lust...indeed.

    Les, oh yes, thank you! I've got both of those and they are doing quite well (knock on wood). Their foliage is more needle-like though, its the bushy lushness of this one that really stands out.

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  7. I can understand your infatuation. He's a handsome fellow for sure!

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  8. I just used one of these in a garden I designed. They are very cute.

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  9. You are absolutely right. Having these planted around large succulent's would make such a statement. I may have to look for this plant.

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  10. I had a couple of 'Little John' bottlebrushes in my former garden. They were beautiful. I wonder if they made it through the cold winter last year.

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