I am in Ladysmith. The watering done in summer is Lots of watering and in winter is Average Water. After that, you can prune them lightly or heavily. How to Prune Tree-Type Lilacs. To prune lilacs, get to work in the spring: cut fresh flowers for bouquets, nip off the longest stems, and thin out any weak stems at the base. Fast growing, these desirable shrubs draw attention with their stunning flowers. This will help us define the right time to prune our Californian lilac. Remaining branches can be … Water a California lilac one or two times a week with 1 inch of water for its first growing season. they might even be able to sell you one of the lilacs the the arboretum has developed for blooming in our mild climate. Soil type They are often found on hot, dry and stony slopes where they tolerate drought, heat and cold provided the soil drains well. We also love the fact that it is deer resistant, native to Vancouver Island and drought tolerant. Himalayan lilac has variegated leaves in fresh green with a darker green central splash; Syringa vulgaris ‘Lois Amee Utley’ – a large lilac with fragrant pink, double flowers. Deciduous ceanothus can be pruned hard (and often in the first two years). Ceanothus Joyce Coulter, Creeping Mountain Lilac With a little pruning, this floriferous Ceanothus grows to only about 2 ft high but about 8 ft wide. As with any plant when pruning there are many tools that can be used. These varied plants may be hardy from U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 11. How to grow Ceanothus. In this article we will talk about pruning ceanothus in general, leaving applicable tips for pruning Californian lilac (how and when to prune), although we will also take the time to leave the best tips to take care of this beautiful plant. Remaining branches can be cutback as long as there is some evidence of leaf growth. Prune Dwarf Lilac Bushes. It bears deeply fragrant lavender flowers and has an easy-care nature. This is because the plant begins the process of developing flowers next year. When you prune a tree or plant, you are removing branches and stems which will help your lilac tree grow bigger and stronger than ever before. If your lilac is dead I suggest you go to the Los Angeles Arboretum and see the ones that are growing there. Lilac bushes can get tall and leggy and knowing how to prune them will give you years of beautiful, fragrant flowers on manageable plants. Keep in mind that you must disinfect all the tools before trimming your ceanothus. How to Grow California Lilac, Ceanothus Rhamnaceae. Never cut into old growth that is larger than a pencil. Grow Beautifully. When to lightly prune. 1. Note: Please note that the advice given here is general, this blog is consulted from many countries in the world, with totally different characteristics, what not all tips will be adapted in the same way in all cases. One way to renew a large, overgrown lilac is to cut the entire plant back to within 6 to 8 inches of the ground in late winter (March or early April). I want to prune my newly-bought Ceanothus thyrsiflorus (Blue Blossom, Victoria California Lilac) so that it grows up, not out. To facilitate rapid healing of cut surfaces, prune these in late summer or early autumn instead. Family: Rhamnaceae Genus: Ceanothus (see-uh-NO-thus) Common: California Wild Lilac, Wild Lilac, Mountain Lilac, Blue Blossom Origin: From Canada, south to Mexico & Guatemala – also some in the Rocky Mountains & eastern US. Pruning of Ceanothus is easy; the early flowering varieties that are flowering in May have produced flowers on the previous year’s wood. It has small crinkly holy leaves and blue puffball flowers. Remaining branches can be cutback as long as there is some evidence of leaf growth. California Lilac (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus) Posted by admin. 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