Ceanothus

The genus Ceanothus, or Red-root (Ceanothus), includes about 60 species-deciduous or evergreen shrubs, less often small trees with twig-shaped (there are also spiny) branches. Deciduous species are mostly resistant, but evergreens, on the contrary, are easily damaged by strong, prolonged frosts or late frosts, so in cold climates they are not grown outdoors. Ceanothus is characterized by petiolate leaves with three veins at the base and small flowers: blue or white, less often pink or blue, collected in small umbrella-shaped flowers. bunches in large beautiful paniculate inflorescences. Ceanothus americanus is a shrub up to 1 m tall, with finely toothed leaves pubescent on the underside of the leaf plate. White flowers bloom in summer. Numerous very decorative hybrids are derived from it. C. arboreus is an evergreen species with large leaves and bright blue flowers that bloom in spring. Truiten Blue and A. T. Johnson varieties are widely distributed. C. dentatus is an evergreen species that is grown in areas of mild climate. It has ovate dark green leaves, gray on the reverse side, and small flowers of intense blue color blooming in June-July in inflorescences-panicles formed on last year's branches. C. thyrsiflorus is the most persistent of the available evergreen species. It is characterized by oblong dark green glossy leaves and small bright blue flowers that appear in May-June in axillary inflorescences on last year's branches. Many common hybrids and varieties have been obtained from the numerous species grown. The roots of the plant are red, used for dyeing fabrics.

The genus Ceanothus, or Red-root (Ceanothus), includes about 60 species-deciduous or evergreen shrubs, less often small trees with twig-shaped (there are also spiny) branches. Deciduous species are mostly resistant, but evergreens, on the contrary, are easily damaged by strong, prolonged frosts or late frosts, so in cold climates they are not grown outdoors. Ceanothus is characterized by petiolate leaves with three veins at the base and small flowers: blue or white, less often pink or blue, collected in small umbrella-shaped flowers. bunches in large beautiful paniculate inflorescences.

Ceanothus americanus is a shrub up to 1 m tall, with finely toothed leaves pubescent on the underside of the leaf plate. White flowers bloom in summer. Numerous very decorative hybrids are derived from it.

C. arboreus is an evergreen species with large leaves and bright blue flowers that bloom in spring. Truiten Blue and A. T. Johnson varieties are widely distributed.

C. dentatus is an evergreen species that is grown in areas of mild climate. It has ovate dark green leaves, gray on the reverse side, and small flowers of intense blue color blooming in June-July in inflorescences-panicles formed on last year's branches.

C. thyrsiflorus is the most persistent of the available evergreen species. It is characterized by oblong dark green glossy leaves and small bright blue flowers that appear in May-June in axillary inflorescences on last year's branches.

Many common hybrids and varieties have been obtained from the numerous species grown. The roots of the plant are red, used for dyeing fabrics.

Cultivation

Ceanothuses are used as ornamental shrubs in gardens, hedges, flower beds and borders and are valued for their very long flowering time. Especially popular are late-flowering species with white, pink, blue and blue panicles. They are often grown on balconies and terraces - in pots or large containers, because the plants are characterized by a compact root system and they do not need much land. Tender species can be grown in the open ground only in mild climates. When growing in a pot in a cold climate, they are removed indoors for the winter. Planted in a permanent place usually in October or March-April. They prefer light, well-drained and fertile soil rich in organic matter. Ceanothus should not be planted in carbonate soil, because there is a high probability of chlorosis (an exception is the hybrid Ceanothus Burkwood (C. x burkwoodii). During planting, organic fertilizers are applied in the form of rotted manure or compost: 3-5 kg is required for each bush, depending on the size. When growing in a pot, use light soil that allows water to pass through, with the addition of mineral complex fertilizers. In spring, once every 20-30 days, a complex fertilizer in the amount of 20 ml per bucket is added to the water for watering young and potted plants. The pruning time depends on the type. Evergreen species are pruned in the summer after flowering, which contributes to a lush flowering for the next year. Deciduous species and varieties, on the contrary, are pruned in early spring, which contributes to abundant branching. Young plants are also pruned in the spring to give them a neat shape.

Ceanothuses are used as ornamental shrubs in gardens, hedges, flower beds and borders and are valued for their very long flowering time. Especially popular are late-flowering species with white, pink, blue and blue panicles. They are often grown on balconies and terraces - in pots or large containers, because the plants are characterized by a compact root system and they do not need much land. Tender species can be grown in the open ground only in mild climates. When growing in a pot in a cold climate, they are removed indoors for the winter.

Planted in a permanent place usually in October or March-April. They prefer light, well-drained and fertile soil rich in organic matter. Ceanothus should not be planted in carbonate soil, because there is a high probability of chlorosis (an exception is the hybrid Ceanothus Burkwood (C. x burkwoodii). During planting, organic fertilizers are applied in the form of rotted manure or compost: 3-5 kg is required for each bush, depending on the size.

When growing in a pot, use light soil that allows water to pass through, with the addition of mineral complex fertilizers. In spring, once every 20-30 days, a complex fertilizer in the amount of 20 ml per bucket is added to the water for watering young and potted plants.

The pruning time depends on the type. Evergreen species are pruned in the summer after flowering, which contributes to a lush flowering for the next year. Deciduous species and varieties, on the contrary, are pruned in early spring, which contributes to abundant branching. Young plants are also pruned in the spring to give them a neat shape.

Location

Preferably a place in the open sun, but always protected from the wind.

Temperature

Deciduous species are resistant to temperature fluctuations, and evergreens are poorly resistant or even tender. Hybrids are almost always strong, even those obtained from evergreen species. Ceanothus are sensitive to late and prolonged frosts.

Watering

Watering should be regular, but in no case excessive- Ceanothus from excess water dies, so it is important to ensure high-quality drainage of the soil.

Transplant

Individual potted specimens are transplanted into a new pot once every 2-3 years in the spring. In large containers, fertile land is added once every 2 years, and you can replace the top layer of soil with it.

Reproduction

Propagated by cuttings. Cuttings are rooted in a mixture of peat and sand, taken in equal parts. After the formation of roots, cuttings are planted in separate cups with light soil (without lime) and allowed to winter in a closed, unheated room. In the spring, they are transplanted into a new pot and taken out into the fresh air.

Diseases

Many species and hybrids when grown on calcareous soils develop chlorosis, which manifests itself in yellowing of the leaves. You can try to acidify the soil and make preparations based on iron chelate.

Acquisition

Ceanothus seedlings are easily found in horticultural centers and specialized nurseries. The best time to buy is autumn or spring, but they should be planted immediately in a permanent place. If the soil is calcareous, add peat (or another ready-made acidic soil mixture) when planting.

Types and varieties Late-flowering Ceanothus species with white, pink, blue and blue panicles are especially appreciated as ornamental crops. Blue ceanothus (Ceanothus azureus, or C. caeruleus) is an unstable deciduous species. The leaves are oval-lanceolate; from July to September, blue flowers bloom, collected in long panicles. C. cyaneus is an evergreen species with egg-shaped leaves of intense green color and bright blue flowers in paniculate inflorescences that appear in early summer. In the variety 'Sierra Blue', the flowers are characterized by a dark blue saturated shade. C. impressus is an evergreen shrub that suffers from cold winds. The small leaves are dark green and glossy on the upper side and pubescent on the lower side. In spring, small flowers of intense blue color bloom, collected in short panicles. The variety 'Pudget Blue' is characterized by dark lilac flowers. C. rigidus is an evergreen species with small, wedge-shaped, opposite, sawn leaves, the upper side of which is glossy, the lower side is lighter in color. In spring, purple-blue flowers bloom, collected in axillary umbrellas. The variety 'Snowball' has white flowers. C. sorediatus is an evergreen species whose branches are erect with gray, green, or purple bark. In spring, flowers appear, colored from white to dark blue. Sometimes there is a remontant autumn flowering. Ceanothus thyrsiflorus creeper (C. thyrsiflorus var. repens) is a creeping plant with purple flowers that appear in spring and summer. The Blue Mound variety has dark blue flowers that brighten by the end of flowering. The Dark Star variety has purple flowers. Hybrids Among the many hybrids of the genus Ceanothus, the following are most often grown. Ceanothus Burkwood (Ceanothus x burkwoodii) is one of the most resistant evergreens, with glossy opposite leaves, lighter on the underside. In the period from June to October, flowers collected in panicles, painted in an intense blue color, bloom on the branches of last year. Ceanothus x 'Dilight' is one of the most resistant evergreens. The dark green leaves are egg-shaped. At the end of May, flowers collected in panicles, painted in an intense blue color, bloom. Ceanothus x 'The Glory of Versailles' is an extremely stable deciduous plant its ovate leaves are very large. From the end of summer and during autumn, fragrant light blue flowers bloom, collected in long panicles. Ceanothus x 'Marie Simon' is a very hardy deciduous plant. In July and August, pink flowers bloom on the branches of the current year. Ceanothus x 'Topaz' is a stable deciduous hybrid, similar to Ceanothus x 'Glory of Versailles', but less lush. In the period from June to October, dark blue flowers appear, collected in panicles 10-15 cm long, intensely blue in color.

Types and varieties

Late-flowering Ceanothus species with white, pink, blue and blue panicles are especially appreciated as ornamental crops.

Blue ceanothus (Ceanothus azureus, or C. caeruleus) is an unstable deciduous species. The leaves are oval-lanceolate; from July to September, blue flowers bloom, collected in long panicles.

C. cyaneus is an evergreen species with egg-shaped leaves of intense green color and bright blue flowers in paniculate inflorescences that appear in early summer. In the variety 'Sierra Blue', the flowers are characterized by a dark blue saturated shade.

C. impressus is an evergreen shrub that suffers from cold winds. The small leaves are dark green and glossy on the upper side and pubescent on the lower side. In spring, small flowers of intense blue color bloom, collected in short panicles. The variety 'Pudget Blue' is characterized by dark lilac flowers.

C. rigidus is an evergreen species with small, wedge-shaped, opposite, sawn leaves, the upper side of which is glossy, the lower side is lighter in color. In spring, purple-blue flowers bloom, collected in axillary umbrellas. The variety 'Snowball' has white flowers.

C. sorediatus is an evergreen species whose branches are erect with gray, green, or purple bark. In spring, flowers appear, colored from white to dark blue. Sometimes there is a remontant autumn flowering.

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus creeper (C. thyrsiflorus var. repens) is a creeping plant with purple flowers that appear in spring and summer. The Blue Mound variety has dark blue flowers that brighten by the end of flowering. The Dark Star variety has purple flowers.

Hybrids

Among the many hybrids of the genus Ceanothus, the following are most often grown.

Ceanothus Burkwood (Ceanothus x burkwoodii) is one of the most resistant evergreens, with glossy opposite leaves, lighter on the underside. In the period from June to October, flowers collected in panicles, painted in an intense blue color, bloom on the branches of last year.

Ceanothus x 'Dilight' is one of the most resistant evergreens. The dark green leaves are egg-shaped. At the end of May, flowers collected in panicles, painted in an intense blue color, bloom.

Ceanothus x 'The Glory of Versailles' is an extremely stable deciduous plant its ovate leaves are very large. From the end of summer and during autumn, fragrant light blue flowers bloom, collected in long panicles.

Ceanothus x 'Marie Simon' is a very hardy deciduous plant. In July and August, pink flowers bloom on the branches of the current year.

Ceanothus x 'Topaz' is a stable deciduous hybrid, similar to Ceanothus x 'Glory of Versailles', but less lush. In the period from June to October, dark blue flowers appear, collected in panicles 10-15 cm long, intensely blue in color.