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Ceanothus species - .

Common Name
Family Rhamnaceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known in the wild.
Range A collection of garden hybrids of uncertain parentage.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Ceanothus species


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Ceanothus species
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Ceanothus species is an evergreen Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft 7in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

A green dye is obtained from the flowers[168]. All parts of the plant are rich in saponins - when crushed and mixed with water they produce a good lather which is an effective and gentle soap[168, 169]. This soap is very good at removing dirt, though it does not remove oils very well. This means that when used on the skin it will not remove the natural body oils, but nor will it remove engine oil etc[K] The flowers are a very good source, when used as a body soap they leave behind a pleasant perfume on the skin[K]. The developing seed cases are also a very good source of saponins[K].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a warm sunny position but tolerates light shade[11, 200]. Tolerates some lime, but will not succeed on shallow chalk[200]. Some of the cultivars included here are tolerant of clay soils[260]. Plants dislike root disturbance, they should be planted out into their permanent positions whilst still small[182]. Dislikes heavy pruning, it is best not to cut out any wood thicker than a pencil[182]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[200]. Some members of this genus have a symbiotic relationship with certain soil micro-organisms, these form nodules on the roots of the plants and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200, 212].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 12 hours in warm water and then given 1 - 3 months stratification at 1°c[138, 200]. Germination usually takes place in 1 - 2 months at 20°c[138]. One report says that the seed is best given boiling water treatment, or heated in 4 times its volume of sand at 90 - 120°c for 4 - 5 minutes and then soaked in warm water for 12 hours before sowing it[214]. The seed exhibits considerable longevity, when stored for 15 years in an air-tight dry container at 1 - 5°c it has shown little deterioration in viability[214]. The seed is ejected from its capsule with some force when fully ripe, timing the collection of seed can be difficult because unless collected just prior to dehiscence the seed is difficult to extract and rarely germinates satisfactorily[214]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. This is a garden hybrid and it will not breed true from seed. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, taken at a node[200], July/August in a frame[11]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, 7 - 12 cm with a heel, October in a cold frame[78]. The roots are quite brittle and it is best to pot up the callused cuttings in spring, just before the roots break[78]. Good percentage.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Ceanothus americanusNew Jersey Tea, Wild SnowballShrub1.2 4-9 FLMSNDM333
Ceanothus arboreusCatalina Mountain Lilac, Feltleaf ceanothusShrub7.0 8-10 MLMSNDM002
Ceanothus cuneatusBuckbrush, Sedgeleaf buckbrush, Monterey ceanothusShrub1.8 6-9 FLMSNDM212
Ceanothus divergensCropleaf Ceanothus, Calistoga ceanothusShrub1.5 7-10  LMSNDM002
Ceanothus fendleriFendler's CeanothusShrub2.0 4-8 FLMSNDM212
Ceanothus impressusSanta Barbara CeanothusShrub1.5 7-9 MLMSNDM002
Ceanothus integerrimusDeer BrushShrub4.0 6-9  LMSNDM212
Ceanothus maritimusMaritime CeanothusShrub1.0 7-10  LMSNDM003
Ceanothus ovatusSmaller Red-RootShrub1.0 4-8  LMSNDM212
Ceanothus prostratusSquaw Carpet, Prostrate ceanothusShrub0.1 6-9  LMSNDM003
Ceanothus purpureusHollyleaf CeanothusShrub2.0 7-10  LMSNDM002
Ceanothus sanguineusOregon Tea Tree, Redstem ceanothusShrub2.0 4-8  LMSNDM212
Ceanothus thyrsiflorusBlue Brush, BlueblossomShrub4.5 7-9 MLMSNDM002
Ceanothus velutinusSticky Laurel, Snowbrush ceanothus, Hooker's ceanothusShrub2.5 4-8  LMSNDM222

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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