Shrub
Ceanothus
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | Flowers in April | Flowers in May | Flowers in June | |||||||||
| Plant | Plant in April | Plant in May | Plant in September | |||||||||
| Prune | Prune in March | Prune in June | Prune in July | |||||||||
| Looks good | Looks good in April | Looks good in May | Looks good in June |
Overview
Few shrubs produce blue as intense as ceanothus. In late spring the evergreen kinds smother themselves in fluffy clusters of tiny flowers, from powder blue to deep navy, and the whole plant hums with bees. 'Concha' has dark blue flowers opening from reddish buds, 'Puget Blue' is a rich mid-blue, and C. thyrsiflorus var. repens forms a low mound for banks. Deciduous types such as 'Gloire de Versailles' flower later, in summer, with softer blue plumes. Most are quick-growing but fairly short-lived, so enjoy them and replace them when they get leggy.
Where to grow ceanothus
These Californian shrubs want sun, shelter from cold winds and sharp drainage. A south- or west-facing wall is ideal, especially in colder inland and northern gardens; mild coastal areas can grow them in the open. Avoid heavy wet clay and very shallow chalk, where leaves may turn yellow.
Planting
Plant in spring once the worst frosts are over, or in early autumn in mild areas. Add grit to heavier soil, set the root ball level with the surface and water well. Wall-trained plants need wires to tie shoots to.
Care through the year
Spring
Pull back any mulch from the stem and check for frost-browned tips, which can be trimmed once new growth appears.
Summer
Water new plants in their first summer only; established ones tolerate drought well.
Autumn
Avoid feeding, which encourages soft growth that frost damages.
Winter
In a hard cold spell, a double layer of fleece over a young wall plant helps.
Pruning
Trim evergreen spring-flowering kinds straight after flowering, shortening the flowered shoots by up to half but staying within the leafy green growth. Deciduous summer-flowering types are cut back in March to a framework, much as you would a hardy fuchsia.
Propagation
Take semi-ripe cuttings from non-flowering shoots in mid to late summer and root them in gritty compost under cover. Young plants are worth having in reserve, given the shrub's short life.
Common problems
Scale insects sometimes cover stems and leave sticky honeydew; rub them off or prune out bad patches. Sudden die-back usually follows a harsh winter or waterlogged roots. Honey fungus can kill older plants.
Something else wrong? Diagnose it by symptom.
Month-by-month reminders
Jobs for this plant come round in March, April, May, June, July and September. Each month page lists everything else worth doing in the garden at the same time.
Related plants
Sources
Botanical names follow Kew's Plants of the World Online; growing attributes were checked against the references below. Text is our own. See our editorial policy.