Vlad Pomajzl

Cloudforest Expert

 

Posts: 989

Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2010 10:34 pm

Climate Zone: 8

My Swiss mother in law is here now so pardon my introduction. But she finds our PNW native (or almost native, since it grows wild just south of BC but does very well in the milder parts of the BC Coast) an absolute stunner. And I agree with her.

I got back from work late and just sat there looking at it while breathing in what smelled like a candy factory after they opened their ovens. And the whole things is just buzzing with bugs.

I know. They are everywhere and they are high maintenance plants (read fast growing and needing a periodic trim). But ceanothus thyrsiflorus loves cool summer temps, it is evergreen and you should see the loads of snow this tabletop can carry. Plus the blue (I am partial to blue) is hard to beat. Mine is a bit late this year (I am also 600 ft up so, that by itself slows things down):

Las Palmas Norte

Cloudforest Expert

 

Posts: 1727

Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2010 11:18 pm

Location: SE Vancouver Island

Climate Zone: USDA zone 8

I've got 80' of Ceanothus growing along a portion of a neighboring border. This time of year it's great pefume rolls out. That reminds me ... they need to be trimmed again.

Cheers, Barrie.

Linda, Denman Isl,BC

Cloudforest Expert

 

Posts: 779

Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2010 8:29 am

Climate Zone: 8b

I think they are beautiful too. I only have two. The oldest is about 12 years old and I'm wondering if Ceanothus will recover from a hard pruning? Even though I've pruned relatively lightly and regularly over the years, I don't really like the look of mine shape-wise and would like to cut it back hard.

Vlad Pomajzl

Cloudforest Expert

 

Posts: 989

Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2010 10:34 pm

Climate Zone: 8

Linda they don't like hard pruning and, in general, won't sprout new foliage from old wood. Although I did see some life coming out from the old wood on C. Puget Blue but not on T. thyrsiflorus. I just periodically replace them.

Last year I had to replace a beautifully shaped tree-like C. thyrsiflorus I had in the orchard because a male deer stripped the bark near the base and killed it. Unfortunately, they just don't sprout back like so many other plants. On the other hand they are available everywhere for reasonable price. Before buying one I would inspect each plant carefully to make sure you will be able to get the shape you want. If you want a tree, pick one with a strong vertical leader. Not too many do since they usually prune them early to make them bushy, which is what most people want.

Linda, Denman Isl,BC

Cloudforest Expert

 

Posts: 779

Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2010 8:29 am

Climate Zone: 8b

Thanks for the info, Vlad. Too bad about losing a nice one to the deer. Around here I need to put chicken wire around the trunks all of our ornamental trees that aren't fenced.