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Lithodora Heavenly Blue

harmonyharmony Posts: 403
in Plants
Hi, i've just been cutting back some none flowering stems on my Rozanne that has scrambled away like mad this year and has covered parts of what I think is Lithodora Heavenly Blue. The stems that have been covered with Rozanne have gone brown so would i cut them right back next spring. And would it be better to find Rozanne a different spot in the garden.Thanks

Posts

  • PeggyTXPeggyTX Posts: 556
    I love blue Lithodora and plant some every Spring.
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  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489
    I cut my Lithodora right back two weeks ago and it has made new growth.
    I would move Rozanne to a different position.

    SW Scotland
  • harmonyharmony Posts: 403
    Sorry to ask the question again but i'm not sure what to do. My Rozanne has swamped the Lithodora's this year so the stems underneath are brown and soggy (as seen in first pic) and I am afraid this might cause the stems to rot. I'm thinking of maybe moving Rozanne as suggested (although she seems to love this area). What do I do with Lithodora ?  cut back now or leave while next spring. Also do I leave foliage on Rozanne over winter. Lithodora flowered beautifully this year and the leaves are beautiful bright green but I only realised the stems (underneath Rozanne) had gone brown after I started to cut back Rozanne's stems in the last couple of weeks. In fact i'm thinking of maybe putting Rozanne in a pot so she can trail away to her hearts content. Begining to ramble on now  sorry lol......
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    You can take cuttings from the green growth. If you take cuttings about 3 inch long, and pot them  four to a 3 inch pot of gritty compost. When they make roots, grow them on with a bit of cover through the winter, and plant out the potful in Spring. Lithodora does get leggy. This is a good way to have fresh young plants.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited September 2019
    You can cut Rozanne right down at any time you wish. Any time it's encroaching on other plants, or looks tired, cut it back as severely as you want. In summer it will reflower after a couple of weeks or so. It's not necessary to remove the leaves in autumn as they die away and disappear quickly when the frosts come, but it won't hurt the plant if you do. You can divide it up in spring to make smaller (more manageable) plants too. But it's probably best not to plant it near anything that resents being scrambled over in the first place. 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Good advice from the above;...........inexplicably , Lithodora are often seen amongst the alpine-plant section in nurseries and garden centres .
    They are in fact 'sub-shrubs' , and are at their happiest when allowed to scramble through other plants .
    I used to grow the white-flowered form of Lithodora diffusa (var.alba) ; in hindsight this seemed pointless when the chief attraction of the plant is  normally the intensity of the blue colouration .
  • harmonyharmony Posts: 403
    Thanks for the info
    What I am hoping is that the brown stems on  Lithodora will recover
    When is the best time to cut back before or after flowering..
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Pruning is best done immediately after flowering , preferably in July . Long brown stems can be severely cut back ; they will recover ! A few weeks don't really matter too much .
    With the mild weather continuing at the moment , you shouldn't do any harm if you prune asap .
    Hope this helps !

  • harmonyharmony Posts: 403
    Thanks, that does help and has put my mind at rest..
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