I put in a small 1 gallon Little John 2 years ago and its about 2x2 now. It's probably grown 6 inches all ways around. The city has put a ton of them in along a parkway here in rows and they are really close together. Something else is behind them but not sure what.

I think the Viburnum would be a better contrast.

There are many around here and many of them, without pruning, are 6 feet and more high.

The SWGB, even the newest edition, describes them as 3x3.

Joe

Thanks Joe, that's exactly what I suspected.

I think the viburnum would be better, too.

I'll post a photo later. :)

Renee

Mime is about 7 or 8 years old and is about 3 by 3. Very well behaved. On the other hand I have a Coleonema, "Breath of Heaven" that is over five feet tall. I should have pruned it when smaller to keep more compact, to do it now would make an ugly plant, but I may do it anyway. Al

Well I know this a really old thread, but I am curious, how tall are everyones Little John bottlebrushes now?

Thanks!

6 yrs old mine is about 4x4, but I do shape it once a year about 6 inches back or so.
I put in 3 more 2 years ago and haven't hardly grown. But the first one also took at least a year to get going, but they do flower.
And just 2 weeks ago I put in 6 more in front.
I like the texture and the gray green foliage. They handle the heat, winds and frost.

Thanks, beautiful photo as always.

I think I finally found a spot for a couple of them.

Renee, mine have been in the ground for 4 years. They are still about 3' wide (maybe) and 2' tall. I'll snap some pics and post tomorrow. They don't get a lot of water, so I know that's keeping their size down, but really, they don't get very big. I have never seen one 6' tall. I would doubt that would be 'Little John'. All of ours in our neighborhood are compact, and some are quite a bit older than mine are.

Patty S.

A friend has short lime green Coleonemas with the Little Johns. Stunning combo. Spilling over the retaining wall is lavender lantana with clumps of society garlic. Birch trees in the background.

There are some old Little Johns at the community hospital in Madera that are about 6 feet tall and about 5 wide.

There are some here at Kaiser that are heavily pruned and are still about five feet tall. I found a standard at the nursery that was over six feet tall (in the pot). I guess they can get tall if they get enough water. Mine does! My mom just planted a row of them with chartreuse abelia and Icee Blue podocarpus. I love the combination.