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Floppy Ceanothus 'Trewithen Blue' -- what to do?

lawrence 804lawrence 804 Posts: 22
in Plants
Hi there,

I have a rather floppy ceanothus: we planted it 12 months ago, and from May 2019 up until December 2019 the branches were all straight, but from January 2020 to present the branches are all bent.

The leaves seem to have accepted this new shape and have even started growing upwards toward the sun, along the bends of the branches.

Is this a normal shape?

Does it need splints / pruning back / leaving alone / other?

Please help!


Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Since you have planted them right up against the fence, I think it's best to train them against the fence. The growth habit is quite loose and free flowing in general, and often left to grow like a tree. You can shorten the branches after flowering to keep it more compact, but it's a shrub that wants to get big. They prefer sun too, so if that border does not receive a lot of direct sun, the branches will lean to reach the sun.
  • lawrence 804lawrence 804 Posts: 22
    edited May 2020
    It gets lots and lots of sun :sunglasses:

    So the bent branches are part of the typical shape of a ceanothus?

    It's currently reminding me of one of these...

    CUTE WOODEN PUSH BUTTON PUPPET TOY COLLAPSING - GIRAFFE 1545974513

    I also worry: how will it ever get tall, if it keeps wanting to flop onto the lawn?

    I'd love it to get "tree shaped" as you mentioned...
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    edited May 2020
    Unable to see your photo there, but get the idea...The shrub will eventually get tall. If you want it to grow like a tree, I think you will need to dig it all up and re-position it further away from the fence. The plant size will also need to be reduced. I advise against this now as we are moving into summer, but best done in autumn or spring.

    For now, you should shorten some of the branches after flowering. That will help the plant to form more branching. You can also prune some lower branches away lower down the shrub. Over time, the shrub will form a strong thick trunk. 
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