Little Silver Bottlebrush

Little Silver Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis 'Little Silver') is a dwarf evergreen native shrub, about 90cm tall and 75cm wide, with smooth leaves that carry a slight silver tone. In spring it bears small, bright red bottlebrush flowers that birds love. It is a neat, hardy choice for a low hedge, a rockery or a large tub.

Why you'll love it

• A silver sheen. The leaves are smooth and broad, with a subtle silvery tone, so the shrub looks good even out of flower.
• Red brushes in spring. Small, bright red bottlebrush flowers cover the plant and attract birds.
• Properly compact. At about 90cm by 75cm it suits small gardens, borders and pots without constant pruning.
• Wet or dry. It copes with waterlogged sites and with dry spells once established, which is a rare combination.
• Forgiving. It takes any soil, in full sun or dappled shade, and also suits coastal gardens.

Where it works best

Low hedges. Plant 70cm apart in a row for a dense, flowering low hedge. Mixing several dwarf bottlebrush varieties in one hedge spreads the colour across more of the year.

Rockeries and large tubs. The neat, compact shape sits well among rocks, and in a large tub it will flower happily on a patio or beside a front door.

A specimen plant. Used alone at the front of a bed, it is a tidy focal point with year-round foliage and a spring flush of red.

Growing Little Silver Bottlebrush in Australia

Position and climate. Prefers full sun but tolerates dappled shade. As a bottlebrush it generally copes with frost to about -5C, so it suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it handles coastal conditions.

Soil. Easygoing about soil, clay included. It will tolerate waterlogged sites as well as dry spells once it is established.

Water and feed. Mulch around the plant and water regularly through its first 12 weeks or so. In spring, feed with a slow release native fertiliser.

Pruning. Prune the tips while the plant is young to encourage dense growth. After flowering, cut just behind the spent brushes to keep the shrub bushy.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Little Silver Bottlebrush as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, in 140mm pots in packs of 10, in 200mm pots in packs of 6 and in 300mm pots singly. Tubes are the value choice for a long hedge, while the 200mm and 300mm plants give you a finished look faster. Plants travel upright and settle within a couple of weeks.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• More bottlebrush varieties
• Plants for rockeries
• More Australian native plants
• All about callistemon, the bottlebrush

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

About 70cm apart. At that spacing the shrubs knit together into a low, dense hedge as they mature.

Can it cope with wet soil?

Yes. It tolerates waterlogged sites, and once it is established it also handles dry spells.

Does it need much pruning?

Only a little. Tip prune while it is young to build density, and trim behind the spent flowers after each flush to keep it bushy.